Here is some information from Wikipedia on the applications for Nickel and Chrome. I would encourage all to read these two pages as basic DD. Perhaps the global market should have a read as well...

Uses for Chome:

Applications

• In metallurgy, to impart corrosion resistance, create a shiny finish, or increase hardness:
  • as an alloy constituent, such as in stainless steel
  • in chrome plating
  • chromic acid is used in some anodizing processes
• As dyes and paints:
  • Chromium(III) oxide is a metal polish known as green rouge.
  • Chromium salts color glass an emerald green.
  • Chromium is what makes a ruby red, and therefore is used in producing synthetic rubies.
  • also makes a brilliant yellow for painting
• As a catalyst.
• Chromite is used to make molds for the firing of bricks.
• Chromium salts are used in the tanning of leather.
• Potassium dichromate is a chemical reagent, used in cleaning laboratory glassware and as a titrating agent. It is also used as a mordant (i.e., a fixing agent) for dyes in fabric.
• Chromium(IV) oxide (CrO2) is used to manufacture magnetic tape, where its higher coercivity than iron oxide tapes gives better performance.
• In well drilling muds as an anti-corrosive.
• In medicine, as a dietary supplement or slimming aid, usually as chromium(III) chloride, chromium(III) picolinate, chromium(III) polynicotinate or as an amino acid chelate, such as chromium(III) D-phenylalanine.[5]
• Chromium hexacarbonyl (Cr(CO)6) is used as a gasoline additive.
• Chromium boride (CrB) is used as a high-temperature electrical conductor.
• Chromium(III) sulfate (Cr2(SO4)3) is used as a green pigment in paints, in ceramic, varnishes and inks as well as in chrome plating.
• Chromium(VI) is used in the post Ballard preparation of Gravure (rotogravure) printing Forme Cylinders. By electroplating the metal onto the second coat of copper (after the Ballard skin), the longevity of the printing cylinder is increased.

Uses for Nickel:

Applications

Nickel is used in many industrial and consumer products, including stainless steel, magnets, coinage, and special alloys. It is also used for plating and as a green tint in glass. Nickel is pre-eminently an alloy metal, and its chief use is in the nickel steels and nickel cast irons, of which there are innumerable varieties. It is also widely used for many other alloys, such as nickel brasses and bronzes, and alloys with copper, chromium, aluminium, lead, cobalt, silver, and gold.

Nickel consumption can be summarized as: nickel steels (60%), nickel-copper alloys and nickel silver (14%), malleable nickel, nickel clad, Inconel and other Superalloys (9%), plating (6%), nickel cast irons (3%), heat and electric resistance alloys, such as Nichrome (3%), nickel brasses and bronzes (2%), others (3%).

In the laboratory, nickel is frequently used as a catalyst for hydrogenation, most often using Raney nickel, a finely divided form of the metal.

Nickel has also been often used in coins, or occasionally as a substitute for decorative silver. The American 'nickel' five-cent coin is 75% copper. The Canadian nickel minted at various periods between 1922-81 was 99.9% nickel, and was magnetic.

Nickel(III) oxide is used as the cathode in many rechargeable batteries, including nickel-cadmium, nickel-iron and nickel-metal hydride, and used by certain manufacturers in Li-ion batteries.