Platinum and palladium have been among the most prominent casualties of the selling that has swept commodity markets since the summer with prices for both precious metals down almost two-thirds from their highs for the year.

Platinum prices, after reaching a record $2,290 a troy ounce in early March, sank by 63.7 per cent to $831 a troy ounce on Tuesday. Palladium has dropped 64.1 per cent to $212 a troy ounce since hitting a high for the year of $590, also in March.