Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Palladium rose for a 10th consecutive day, the longest streak since February 2008, as labor unrest in South Africa may disrupt supplies.

Palladium climbed 0.4 percent to $681 an ounce by 12:15 p.m. in London, up 9.9 percent in 10 days. Platinum advanced 0.6 percent to $1,656.50 an ounce, for a 9.8 percent gain in 10 days. South Africa is the world’s biggest producer of platinum and second-largest for palladium, according to Johnson Matthey Plc, the London-based manufacturer of catalytic converters that are the largest use for both palladium and platinum.

Palladium maintains the most constructive fundamentals over the next six months,” Barclays Plc said in its monthly Metals Magnifier report yesterday.

Anglo American Platinum Ltd., the largest producer of platinum, said a strike started at Rustenburg in South Africa which was idled earlier this week after employees were intimidated. Rustenberg produced 125,000 ounces of palladium in the first half this year, or 6.8 percent of the total, according to the Barclays report.

Source: http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/content/en/moneyweb-mining?oid=612056&sn=2009+Detail