Our platinum price chart is a full interactive TradingView chart. This guide explains the main elements so you can read it confidently, whether you want a quick look at today’s price or a view of the last decade.
1. Check the Symbol and Unit
The main chart shows XPT/USD: the price of one troy ounce of platinum in US dollars. If you change the symbol, check the unit — ETFs such as PPLT are priced per share, and futures (NYMEX:PL1!) per ounce for a future delivery month. See XPT/USD explained.
2. Choose a Timeframe
The interval (shown at the top left, e.g. 1h, D, W) sets how much time each bar represents. Short intervals such as 5 minutes or 1 hour show intraday moves; daily and weekly bars show the bigger trend. Use the date-range buttons at the bottom to zoom out to 1 year, 5 years or all available history.
3. Candlesticks, Bars and Lines
Each candlestick shows four prices for its period: open, high, low and close.
- The body spans the open and close. It is usually green (or hollow) if the close was above the open, and red if it was below.
- The thin wicks show the high and low reached during the period.
- Long wicks suggest the price was pushed away from an extreme; small bodies suggest indecision.
A line chart connects closing prices only, which is cleaner for long-term comparisons such as our gold vs platinum overlay.
4. Moving Averages, Including the 200-Day
A simple moving average (SMA) is the average closing price over the last N bars, redrawn each period. Our main chart loads with an SMA; click its settings to change the length.
- The 50-day SMA reflects the medium-term trend.
- The 200-day SMA is the most widely watched long-term trend gauge. Price holding above a rising 200-day average is usually described as a long-term uptrend, and below a falling one as a downtrend.
- A 50-day average crossing above the 200-day is often called a “golden cross”, and crossing below a “death cross”. These are descriptive labels, not reliable predictions.
Note that on an hourly chart a 200-period SMA covers 200 hours, not 200 days. Switch to the daily (D) interval for a true 200-day average.
5. Support, Resistance and Ranges
Support and resistance are price zones where the market has repeatedly turned. You can mark them with the horizontal line tool. Platinum has a history of long sideways ranges followed by sharp breakouts, so these zones are often discussed in market commentary.
6. Use a Log Scale for Long Histories
On a linear scale every $100 looks the same height; on a logarithmic scale every 10% move does. For multi-year views of a volatile metal like platinum, the log scale (right-click the price axis) gives a fairer picture.
7. Volume and Trading Hours
Spot platinum trades over the counter, so there is no single, complete volume figure; volume shown on a spot chart reflects only that data provider. For exchange volume, look at NYMEX platinum futures. The market trades almost 24 hours on weekdays, with the most activity during London and New York hours, and gaps can appear after weekends.
8. Remember What a Chart Can’t Tell You
Charts summarise past prices. Supply news from South Africa, car-industry data, currency moves and investment flows can override any chart pattern. Technical indicators are tools for describing price, not forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a 200-day moving average to the platinum chart?
Switch the interval to D (daily), open Indicators, add Moving Average (SMA) and set its length to 200. The main chart already includes one SMA you can edit.
Why does the platinum chart show gaps?
Spot platinum stops trading from Friday evening to Sunday evening (US time), so the first bar after a weekend can open at a different price from Friday’s close.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and education only. It is not investment, tax or financial advice, and it does not recommend buying or selling any asset. Precious metal prices are volatile; past performance does not predict future results. Figures are approximate and should be checked against current primary sources.