Palladium futures slipped below $1,400 per ounce, extending losses amid a broad metals sell-off sparked by escalating Middle East tensions. President Donald Trump’s prime-time address, offering no clear end to the conflict but vowing intensified military action, including potential strikes on electrical plants in the coming weeks, deepened market anxiety. A stronger US dollar and rising bond yields curbed demand for non-yielding assets, while stubborn inflation reinforced expectations of tighter monetary policy. The metal also faced downward pressure from profit-taking after its late-2025 to early-2026 surge, which had lifted prices to their highest since 2022. Weakening automotive demand and expanding supply, driven by increased recycling and steady production, added to the downturn. The accelerating shift to battery-electric vehicles (EVs), which eliminate the need for palladium, is further eroding demand, tipping the market into surplus.
