PRECIOUS-Palladium's relentless rally pushes it above $2,500 an ounce

(Updates prices)
* Palladium hits record, eyes biggest weekly gain since 2001
* Gold on track for its first weekly fall in six
* Platinum eases off near 3-year highs

By Eileen Soreng
Jan 17 (Reuters) - Palladium soared over 9% to power above
the key $2,500 an ounce level for the first time on Friday,
boosted by a chronic shortage of the metal in the market and
hopes the global economy might be turning the corner.
Spot palladium XPD= was 6.9% higher at $2,472.80 per ounce
at 1:41 p.m. EST (1841 GMT), having earlier surged past the
$2,500 an ounce level to hit a record peak of $2,537.06.
The auto-catalyst metal was also pacing for its best week
since December 2001, surging more than 16%.
"This is a structural deficit market that has been brewing
for years and we don't really see an increase in supply on the
horizon to quell that," said Ryan McKay, a commodity strategist
at TD Securities.
Palladium has constantly been breaking records, rising more
than 50% last year, on a sustained supply squeeze and
expectations for stricter emission laws across the globe.
Also helping boost prices, China and the United States
signed a preliminary trade deal on Wednesday that could spur
economic growth, and a Chinese auto industry group said vehicle
sales would slow their decline. Palladium is primarily used by automakers for catalytic
converter manufacturing to clean car exhaust fumes.
"In an already tight market, we also have supply risks in
South Africa due to the power outages," McKay added.
South Africa, which produces two-fifths of the world's mined
palladium, released data on Thursday showing its output of
platinum group metals including palladium fell 13.5% in November
compared to the same month in 2018. Platinum XPT= climbed 1.8% to $1,022.44 per ounce, having
hit a peak since February 2017 at $1,041.05 in the last session.
Prices were up 4% for the week.
Elsewhere, safe-haven gold XAU= edged 0.5% higher to
$1,560.43 per ounce, but was headed for first weekly decline in
six. Prices were down 0.1% so far for the week.
U.S. gold futures GCv1 settled up 0.6% at $1,560.3.
There's continued interest in gold buying with political,
geopolitical and economic worries globally and haven-seeking
buyers in countries with weak currencies, said George Gero,
managing director at RBC Wealth Management.
Gold is also facing some headwinds with stocks at record
highs, which is keeping it in a range of about $1,550-$1,580,
Gero added.
World shares hit record highs after data showed China's
economy was stabilizing and the world's second-largest economy
ended 2019 on a somewhat firmer note as the trade truce revived
business confidence. MKTS/GLOB However, investors were still nervous as the Phase 1 deal
failed to address tariffs and some important core issues.
Silver XAG= rose 0.7% to $18.07 per ounce.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Palladium technicals https://tmsnrt.rs/2szovwr
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>