Platinum hits six-week high, dollar plumbs two-month trough

Platinum prices rose to August 10 highs in American trade while the dollar index plumbed July 9 lows, following earlier labor data from the US today. 

As of 01:26 GMT, platinum rose 0.41% to $827.40 an ounce, marking six-week highs, while the dollar index shed 0.64% to 93.93 against a basket of major rivals to ten-week lows. 

Earlier US data showed unemployment claims fell 3 thousand in the week ending September 15 to 201 thousand from 204 thousand, besting estimates of 210 thousand, while continuing claims fell to 1.645 million in the week ending September 8, beating estimates of 1.705 million. 

The Philly manufacturing index rose to 22.9 from 11.9, beating expectations of 17.5.