{
  "id": 537110,
  "title": "OCBC opens up in-app platinum, palladium trading to retail investors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/ocbc-opens-up-in-app-platinum-palladium-trading-to-retail-investors",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-11T04:37:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
    "slug": "the-business-times-companies-markets",
    "url": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/ocbc-opens-app-platinum-palladium-trading-retail-investors"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OCBC has launched the ability for retail investors to trade platinum and palladium via its mobile app, with a minimum purchase of 0.01 ounce starting on August 11. Based on pricing from the previous Friday, this translates to approximately S$23 for platinum and S$18 for palladium. This new offering complements the bank's existing digital trading features for gold and silver, which were introduced to retail clients in October 2021. By doing so, OCBC is making access to these typically exclusive investments more accessible to a wider range of customers, as traditionally these banks have catered to affluent clients. OCBC's research department maintains a bullish outlook for both metals, predicting that platinum could surpass US$2,000 and palladium could exceed US$1,500 by the first half of 2027. In contrast to gold, which is heavily influenced by central bank reserves and store of value considerations, platinum and palladium are primarily driven by industrial applications. Platinum is crucial in automotive manufacturing, industrial processes, and hydrogen fuel cell technologies, while palladium is essential for vehicle emissions-control systems. The metals' price movements are often influenced by demand in the automotive, industrial, and clean energy sectors, and their highly concentrated global supply chains result in price fluctuations that differ from those of gold and silver. OCBC's decision to expand its precious metals offerings aligns with its strategy to lower the entry threshold for retail investors, as explained by Tan Siew Lee, the head of group wealth management at OCBC. She emphasized that combining fractional investments with a digital platform lowers the barriers to entry for all customers. Tan also cautioned that platinum and palladium are high-beta metals, meaning they are more volatile and could be suitable for investors who are comfortable with higher levels of risk and volatility. These metals offer exposure to themes related to resource scarcity, industrial activity, and the global energy transition. OCBC has reported strong adoption of its digital metals platform. In 2025, the number of customers investing in gold and silver through the app increased by two and a half times compared to the previous year, with demand remaining strong even during periods of heightened volatility in 2026.",
  "summary": "They can now purchase these metals starting from a minimum of 0.01 ounce",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "OCBC opens up platinum, palladium trading on its app to retail investors",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/ocbc-opens-up-platinum-palladium-trading-on-its-app-to-retail",
        "published": "2026-08-11T05:07:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}