(IDEX Online) - Dubai is to host its first LGD Symposium in a bid to drive the sector's long-term success.Global leaders in the lab-grown and technology space, including industry, retailers, financial institutions, governmental stakeholders, growers and manufacturers will converge on 10 July.Organizers DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) says it is a "critical moment to address unique chall...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Gold sovereigns with fake hallmarks have been seized in Kochi, in the south-west Indian state of Kerala.Officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said the 118 gold coins, weighing 948 grams, were worth over $58,000.They were being sold without hallmarking and with spurious use of the hallmark, the BIS said, and were seized form Thiru-Kochi Gold and Diamonds, Elamkunnapuzh...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 11 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures weakened despite regulatory authorities taking control of Silicon Valley Bank after the bank experienced a run on its assets. First Republic Bank plunged $49.26 to $32.50 on solvency concerns. Seagen advanced $31.79 to $204.40 after Pfizer offered to acquire the company at...Read More
(IDEX Online) - HRD Antwerp is under investigation by a court in Belgium over allegations that it routinely upgraded diamonds, according to the De Tijd newspaper.It says it obtained e-mails, internal procedures, slides, audit reports and filmed board meetings and other material revealing a long-standing practice, described by one former senior staff member as "a way to commit market fraud".It alle...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi said it was "only logical" that his country should want more and get more from its deal with De Beers.He ramped up the rhetoric in his latest comments on the 54-year-old joint venture agreement, under which three quarters of its rough is currently sold by De Beers."Besides the fact that the diamonds are ours, it doesn't make sense fo...Read More
(IDEX Online) - India's cut and polished diamond exports surged during February, up by almost 20 per cent to ?, ?2.37bn.In rupee terms the increase was even bigger, at just under 32 per cent, according to new figures from GJEPC (Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council).Vipul Shah, the council's chairman, pointed to the recovery in China after Covid restrictions, the lunar New Year, an...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were added 12 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures rallied following release of the U.S. February Employment Report at 8:30 AM EST. Non-farm Payrolls were expected to increase 205,000 versus a gain of 517,000 in January. Actual was an increase of 311,000. February Unemployment Rate was expected to remain at 3.4% set in J...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A 35-carat Leviev diamond ring beat its $2.5m high estimate yesterday when it sold for $2.7m at Bonham's New York.The type IIa emerald-cut, D-color, VVS1-clarity diamond was accented by a round brilliant-cut diamond-set gallery and shank with a total weight of 1.90 carats. The platinum, ring was signed Leviev.Bonhams said it was a "white glove sale" - with buyers found for eac...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro is being investigated over claims he failed to declare diamond jewelry valued at $3.2m.The items, including a Chopard diamond necklace, earrings and watch, were a gift from the Saudi government to him and his wife Michelle.Customs officials seized them from an aide's luggage at Sao Paulo international airport after a presidential v...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Izzy Itzkowitz, who co-invented the princess cut in 1979, has passed away at the age of 68, his son said in a Facebook post.During a lifelong career in diamonds he also developed iconic private label designs for De Beers, Tiffany & Co, and Graff, as well as the "invisible set".Itzkowitz, born and bred in Tel Aviv, he also invented the Asscher Cut Princess and the Asscher Queen....Read More
(IDEX Online) - Four defendants in the 2103 diamond heist at Brussels Airport were yesterday acquitted on appeal. It follows the acquittal of 18 other defendants in a 2018 trial and means just one person has been convicted and jailed over the theft of diamonds valued at the time at $50m. The appeals court in Brussels ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict the four. The shipment of...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 6 points in pre-opening trade. Eli Lilly slipped $1.50 to $311.04 on news that its proposed drug aimed at preventing Alzheimer failed to slow down cognitive declineAmerican Express gained $3.09 to $177.86 after the company announced a 15% increase in its dividend. JD.com dropped $1.64 to $45.23 after reporting less th...Read More
(Corrects spelling of Rag in the last paragraph) By Divya Rajagopal TORONTO, March 8 (Reuters) - BHP Group Ltd onWednesday said it remains committed to growing its portfolio ofcopper and nickel projects but is not interested in the lithiummarket, which it believes is well supplied. The comments echo those the world's largest mining companymade in the past year and come as lithium prices have been...Read More
(IDEX Online) - De Beers today announced slower sales during Cycle 2, down 24 per cent on last year, as uncertainty persists and many sightholders delayed purchases. Total sales were $495m (provisional) compared with $652m during Cycle 2 of 2022. They were up nine per cent on the previous Cycle. De Beers reportedly raised the prices of smaller goods at its latest sight, amid speculat...Read More
(IDEX Online) - US and EU officials are to consult diamond industry leaders on further measures against Russia for its "unprovoked war in Ukraine".James O'Brien, head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination in Joe Biden's administration, will seek the views of diamond retailers, manufacturers, laboratories, and industry trade associations.The US currently sanctions rough diamonds from Ru...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Hong Kong's sales of watches, jewelry, clocks and other valuable gifts leapt 23.1 per cent in January, buoyed by an early lunar Chinese New Year and Covid relaxations. It follows a yo-yo 2022, marked by dramatic monthly drops (-35.9 per cent in April) and increases (30.1 per cent in July). Sales for January 2023 were $566.8m, the highest figure for three years, according to th...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 3 points in pre-opening trade. January U.S. Trade released at 8:30 AM EST was expected to increase to a deficit of $69.00 billion from a deficit of $67.40 billion in December. Actual was a deficit of $68.3 billionFederal Reserve Chairman Powell testifies on monetary policy in front of a House Committee at 10:00 AM EST....Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 6 points in pre-opening trade. Traders are waiting for testimony on U.S. monetary policy in front of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell starting at 10:00 AM EST. Dick's Sporting Goods added $6.66 to $138.80 after reporting higher than consensus fourth quarter revenues and earnin...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Watch and jewelry sales in the US fell for a fourth consecutive month in January. A mood of caution persists within the industry and, to some extent, among consumers. Trade is slow and production is low. The January fall is provisionally recorded at 2.1 per cent by the US Department of Commerce, though that is likely to revised next month. December was initially reported a loss of...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Gem Diamonds yesterday recovered a 122-carat D color Type II white diamond at its Letseng mine, in Lesotho.It's the first +100-ct diamond of the year at the highest average dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.Recoveries of large diamonds last year were below average - four +100-cts compared with an average since 2008 of eight per year, which was a factor in t...Read More