RE:Russian platinum stock piles purchased Q3/Q4 timeframe...."Russian platinum stock piles purchased Q3/Q4 timeframe…"
This article was about Norilsk's consortium purchasing palladium, not platinum. Norilsk is the largest Pd producer, and isn't as interested in Pt.
"The group agreed with an international bank on a loan for 80% of the potential fund, or $1.6bn, he said, declining to name the bank. The metal will be used as a collateral."
If they really are able to obtain that loan from the un-named bank, that could be good news for Pd. prices, even if it's mostly just shuffling Pd stockpiles (from the Russian CB and hedge funds) into their own stockpile.
Given Waterberg is more about Pd than Pt., if this did move Pd price upward, that should help PTM/PLG valuation.
I'm not holding my breath on either the potential impact or timing. Potanin was talking up this plan last October, as if it where to happen any day, then. It's in Norilsk's interest to see Pd price increase, whether aided by a successful consortium, or just rumor and speculation of one.
It was interesting the Pd prices actually fell when this was first discussed last fall. I think many analyst were surprised the Russia CB still had that large of a Pd stockpile.