Platinum stays near 2-month high, gold firm

Platinum on Tuesday hovered just below a two-month peak hit in the previous session as concerns over supply from top producer South Africa festered, while gold firmed on expectations for further monetary stimulus.

Lonmin , the world's third-largest platinum producer, conceded that sacking 3,000 workers at its Marikana mine could lead to more violence, after deadly clashes last week killed dozens.

Spot platinum had lost 0.1 percent to $1,485.10 an ounce by 0640 GMT, off a two-month high of $1,492.99 marked the day before.

The gold-platinum spread stood at $137 an ounce, after falling below $130 the session before, its narrowest since early July.

Gold was trading near the top of its range since May, with sentiment supported by expectations for further stimulus measures, despite the European Central Bank's effort to quash speculation on its future bond buying programme.

"Ongoing expectations for further monetary easing globally are keeping gold lifted," said Li Ning, an analyst at Shanghai CIFCO Futures.

"Physical demand is likely to pick up in September, and that gives hope to gold bugs too."

Spot gold edged up to a one-week high of 1,624.20 an ounce, before easing slightly to $1,622.91, on course for a fifth straight day of gains.

The U.S. gold futures contract for December delivery rose 0.2 percent to $1,625.40.

Reuters market analyst Wang Tao said that charts suggested spot gold might test resistance at $1,626.06, with any break through that level triggering a gain to $1,650.

SILVER SURPRISE

Spot silver jumped nearly 3 percent on Monday to a two-month high of $28.84, surprising traders and analysts. The move, helped by the rally in platinum prices, was the sharpest one-day rise in more than a month and pushed silver above its 100-day moving average for the first time since April.

Silver, with dual properties as both precious and industrial metal, was trading at $28.78

"I think everyone is waiting for some action between September and December after a few months of directionless trade," said a Shanghai-based trader.

"If we see policymakers announce stimulus measures, and these measures meet expectations, prices will rally. If not, prices will retrace."