SMASH Recycling Morning Metals Report – August 12, 2026

Prices as of August 12, 2026 at 07:31 AM CDT.

Market screen levels only — not yard pay prices. Actual buy prices at the scale will differ based on grade, moisture, contamination, and freight. The scrolling ticker at the top of this page shows live prices and may differ from the snapshot below.

Jump to:

• Gold — $4,412/oz ▲
• Silver — $65.97/oz ▲
• PGMs — Rh ▲ $8,725 · Pt ▲ $1,768 · Pd ▲ $1,372
• Copper — $6.67/lb ▲
• Aluminum — $1.50/lb ▼
• Steel Scrap — $413.00/mt ▸
• Macro Backdrop
• CAD — USD/CAD 1.3927

SMASH Recycling Takeaways for Today

• Gold & Silver — Move jewelry, coins, and silver-bearing scrap now. The tape is still firm, and waiting risks giving back gains on clean precious loads.
• PGMs — Pull cats, e-scrap, and platinum-group lots forward. Sort them tight, document them well, and use auction format to force real competition.
• Copper — Ship clean copper now. Bare bright, #1, and #2 are getting support, so don’t let good wire sit while the bid is hot.
• Aluminum — Be selective. Keep clean, sorted aluminum moving, but do not chase every mixed load when prices are softer.
• Big Picture — 6 of 8 metals higher today, so sellers should lean on clean non-ferrous and use competition to price discovery.

Macro Backdrop — Energy and Risk

Brent Crude Oil: $89.22/bbl, down $0.0100 (-0.01%) day-over-day.

US Dollar Index (DXY): 99.79, up 0.19 (+0.19%) day-over-day.

**Energy is firm, but the real story is rates and the dollar.**

Brent sits around **$89/bbl**, basically flat on the day, but still well above last week’s print in the high‑80s. That keeps diesel and freight a headache for you, even as natural gas storage looks heavy heading into winter.

The real pressure point is **risk, not fuel**. The 10‑year is back up near **4.7%**, with real yields above **2%**, and the **DXY** holding just under 100. Higher real rates and a steady dollar are a drag for risk assets, even as gold hangs near recent highs. Stay alert: energy costs are not your only input risk here.

Gold — Safe-Haven Indicator

• Spot Gold (XAU): $4,412/oz, up +$35.50 (+0.81%) day-over-day. Previous close: $4,376/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**Gold is still pushing higher, and that keeps scrap value firm for clean, well-documented lots.** Spot gold is at **$4,412/oz**, up **$35.50** today, and it has risen in **3 of the last 5 sessions**.[1] For sellers and recyclers, this is a price where *inventory control matters*. The macro tone still points to the **dollar and rates** as the main drivers, so watch your core, karat mix, and docs before you move metal.[1]

Silver — Industrial & Precious Hybrid

• Spot Silver (XAG): $65.97/oz, up +$1.09 (+1.68%) day-over-day. Previous close: $64.88/oz.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Gold/Silver ratio: 66.9:1.

**Silver is firm at $65.97 an ounce, and that keeps the floor solid for scrap.** The metal is up 1.68% on the day, and the 5-day trend is still up in 3 of 5 sessions, so sellers have decent price support.

Precious Metals (PGM) — Screen Indicators

• Platinum (Pt): $1,768/oz, up +$30.00 (+1.73%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,738/oz. MoM: +10.4%.
• Platinum 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.
• Palladium (Pd): $1,372/oz, up +$25.00 (+1.86%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1,347/oz. MoM: +11.2%.
• Palladium 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.
• Rhodium (Rh): $8,725/oz, up +$50.00 (+0.58%) day-over-day. Previous close: $8,675/oz. MoM: +7.7%.
• Rhodium 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.

**PGMs are firm today, and that keeps converter money in play.** Platinum is at **$1,768/oz**, palladium at **$1,372/oz**, and rhodium at **$8,725/oz**, with all three up on the day and trending higher in recent sessions. Brent is still strong near **$89/bbl**, but the bigger drivers remain rates and the dollar, so sellers should watch the spread and move clean material while the bid tone holds.

Copper — Current Indicators

• COMEX/Spot Copper: $6.67/lb, up +$0.0380 (+0.57%) day-over-day. Previous close: $6.64/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 3 of last 5 sessions.

**Copper is firm at $6.67/lb, up about 4 cents on the day.** The dollar is stronger, so this move is more about steady demand than a big macro push. The trend is still up, with copper higher in 3 of the last 5 sessions, so sellers should keep a close eye on their loads.

Aluminum — Current Indicators

• LME Aluminum: $3,310/tonne ($1.50/lb), down $0.0231 (-1.52%) day-over-day. Previous close: $1.52/lb.
• 5-day trend: ↑ 4 of last 5 sessions.

Aluminum is **$1.50/lb**, down about 2 cents today. The daily dip fits the stronger dollar and firm rates story, but the **4-of-5** session run says buyers are still active, so don’t chase the top or dump good loads too fast.

Steel Scrap (Shredded (SHS), scrapmonster) — Current Indicators

• Steel Scrap Shredded (SHS) (SCRAP-SHS): $413.00/mt, flat day-over-day. Previous close: $413.00/mt.
• 5-day trend: → flat over last 5 sessions.
• HMS 1&2 (80:20) (SCRAP-HM): $366.00/mt (flat day-over-day).

Want to move PGM-bearing material, copper, aluminum, or steel scrap through competitive bidding? List your lots on SMASH Recycling and let vetted Canadian buyers compete for your scrap.