Gold prices tend to command a disproportionate share of the headline space, but it is palladium that has vastly outperformed this year among the precious metals. It is up over 38 percent so far in 2019, a figure more than double that of either gold, silver or platinum. Physical demand looks to have been a driver of gains for some time. The metal is a key input for the making of catalytic converters used in autos to reduce emissions. Its rise over the past decade has played out alongside vehicle exports from China. They now rank fifth among the country’s top commodities sold abroad. Interestingly, this has continued ... (full story)