Platinum's Elasticity

Platinum's elasticity comes from the fact that it is a small but tightly controlled market.  The price can be altered in a wide range without too much notice.  The price is already high, so there are many substitutes for its industrial purposes.  This elasticity is what is used by Central Banks everywhere to prop up the markets.

If the world's largest money managers, the Fed and the Bank of Japan, wanted to make sure to put a floor under equities, they could make money by...

1a)  Moving platinum from Reserve to Asset (on the bank's balance sheet), essentially a sale or lease of platinum

1b)  Spin loans from platinum's sale/lease

The equity is now created.  This first step is bullish for platinum, as investment is put into it.  The next step is to:

2a)  Sell equity/stock

2b)  Short platinum

2c)  Return capitol

3)  Buy more platinum

The second step is where the price of platinum would decrease, as it is being shorted.  The third step is not only bullish long run, like the first step, it is bullish short term as well.  Even small demand trumps supply now, and since the platinum production peaked in '09.

The elasticity that is brought out in platinum's small market is being taken advantage of by the central bankers.  They know how much leverage they can generate with small investments of their fiat collateral.  Using the leverage, establishments like the President's Working Group on Financial markets is able to play with equity/stock, and put floors in the global exchanges.  The end result is of course an increase in the price of platinum, as supply is steadily decreasing.  If any other big monie comes into the market, the game could be taken to a whole new price range.