N.A. Palladium (PDL-TSX)
News from The Globe and Mail
March 02, 2004

$13.21, up 58 cents

North American Palladium Ltd., which mines for platinum and other metals, rose 4.6 per cent. Platinum rose 1.1 per cent to $906.10 (U.S.) an ounce, the highest since March, 1980. Mine production of platinum, used in jewellery and pollution-control devices in cars, will remain in deficit for a sixth year in 2004, Johnson Matthey PLC said in November. The company is the biggest distributor of the metal. Auto makers' demand for platinum, used in catalytic converters to meet stricter emissions rules, has soared 90 per cent in the past decade, Johnson Matthey said.