At least 15 mining firms in South Africa, home to the world's biggest platinum group metals deposits accounting for over 90 percent of global output, have received notices of strikes next week in support of colleagues at Sibanye-Stillwater
who downed tools over wages and job cuts.
"The fundamental issue with palladium is any strike will drive prices through the roof because there is a shortfall with normal production, so any collapse of production will support prices," said Miguel Perez-Santalla, vice president of Heraeus Metal Management in New York. "The threat of the South African mines strike spreading to the platinum mining industry is enough to make people nervous and that's why we're seeing some short-covering in platinum and palladium, driving both the metals higher."
Platinum, which briefly touched its highest since Nov. 20 at $853.50, was up 0.8 percent at $847 an ounce.
Meanwhile, spot gold was down 0.1 percent to $1,326 an ounce and US gold futures slipped 0.4 percent to $1,328.10.
Spot silver was down 0.3 percent to $15.86 an ounce.
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he was optimistic that a final trade deal could be reached with China and that he would hold a summit to sign any pact, having announced on Sunday that he would delay an increase in US tariffs on Chinese goods.
"Much of last year, we saw the dollar benefiting from safe haven flows and gold was suffering because of the dollar's strength. With the easing of the trade tensions, gold prices are likely to benefit," said Suki Cooper, precious metals analyst at Standard Chartered Bank.
"The dollar at the margins has certainly helped provide a boost to gold." Investors were now eyeing a testimony by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Tuesday and Wednesday for further cues on US monetary tightening.