ZAforexLive charts
Silver price
Silver is both a precious metal and an industrial input (solar panels, electronics), so it follows gold but swings harder. The gold-to-silver ratio, how many ounces of silver buy one ounce of gold, is a popular gauge of whether silver looks cheap or expensive relative to gold.
Platinum and palladium: South Africa's metals
The Bushveld Complex holds the bulk of the world's known platinum-group-metal reserves. PGM prices drive the earnings of Implats, Sibanye-Stillwater and other JSE miners, and they feed into the rand through export earnings. Palladium is used mainly in petrol-car catalytic converters, platinum in diesel catalysts, jewellery, industry and hydrogen fuel cells, so the shift to electric vehicles is a long-term risk for both.
Copper price
Copper is called "Dr Copper" because demand tracks global industrial activity, especially in China. It is quoted per pound on COMEX (HG) and per tonne on the LME. Copper exposure on the JSE comes through diversified miners like Anglo American and Glencore.
Frequently asked questions
What is the silver price today in rand?
See the silver tile at the top of the page; it converts the live dollar spot price at today's USD/ZAR rate.
Why does South Africa care about platinum and palladium?
South Africa is the world's largest platinum producer and a major palladium producer, so PGM prices affect mining jobs, tax revenue, the JSE and the rand.