The invention provides a noble metal-containing supported catalyst which contains one of the noble metals from the group Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os or alloys of one or more of these noble metals in the form of noble metal particles on a powdered support material. The particles deposited on the support material have a degree of crystallinity, determined by X-ray diffraction, of more than 2 and an average particle size between 2 and 10 nm. The high crystallinity and the small particle size of the noble metal particles lead to high catalytic activity for the catalyst. It is particularly suitable for use in fuel cells and for the treatment of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines.