RAPAPORT... A collection of jewels detailing the story of Indiandiamonds over six centuries is set to go on sale for the first time. Approximately 35 pieces belonging to diamond dealerBenjamin Zucker will feature in an exhibition at Les Enluminures in New York,the gallery said Thursday. Many of the jewels have previously appeared at theWalters Art Museum in Baltimore, the Yale Peabody Museum...Read More

RAPAPORT... De Beers' profit dropped in the first half of the year asweak demand at the trade and consumer levels impacted diamond prices, thecompany said Thursday. The rough market was subdued due to high inventories inboth the midstream and the retail sector, as well as a slowdown in growth ofconsumer demand, the miner explained. The US-China tariff dispute, protests inHong Kong and the strong U...Read More

RAPAPORT... Diamond exporters will be allowed to ship goods out of India for trade showsor consignment without paying goods and services (GST) tax, the government has announced.The revision rules that these items don't constitute "supply," Indian authorities said last week following several meetings with the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Therefore, members of the trade h...Read More

The first Israel Diamond Week in Shanghai, held July 16-18, ended "on a high note and is expected to become an annual event", the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) website reported.. Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) President Qiang Lin hosted a delegation led by IDE President Yoram Dvash. More than 15 prominent Israeli diamond companies as well participated. The event included an Israeli exhibition of...Read More

Alrosa reported that since 2006, the company has financed the cost of land reclamation and the recovery of habitat that was typical to the area before the sites were mined. During the past 13 years, Alrosa allocated more than $15 million for the restoration of the fertile layer and the planting of dozens of grass, shrub and tree species in the areas affected by mining and processing. The total are...Read More

Tiffany & Co. is urging the Second Circuit to uphold a $25 million trademark victory against Costco Wholesale Corp. over diamond engagement rings, asking the appeals court to ignore the retailer's "false narrative," according to the Law360.com website. Tiffany and Costco have been engaged in a legal battle for the past six years, i.e. since 2013. Tiffany first brought its the case against...Read More

Anglo-American - and its subsidiary De Beers - published their results for the first half of 2019. For Anglo-American, rough diamonds constitute less than ten percent of its earnings. Anglo's chief earnings come from coper ($789 million), PGMs i.e. precious metals ($824) Bulks, i.e. a collation of products such as coal, iron ore, aluminum and other minerals ($3.36 billion!) and diamonds ($518...Read More

Aim-listed Firestone Diamonds has achieved a solid operational performance for the financial year ended June 30, with guidance achieved on all items.CEO Paul Bosma on Thursday said it was, nevertheless, a tough year from a market and pricing perspective, particularly for the smaller, lower-value goods.AdvertisementHe expects these conditions to persist for the rest of this calendar year.He added,...Read More

RAPAPORT... Gem Diamonds has recovered a diamond weighing 123.5carats, its third white stone over 100 carats this year, and its second thismonth. It found the high-quality, type II stone at its Let??eng minein Lesotho on July 20, the company said Tuesday. The miner also unearthed a140-carat white diamond from the deposit on July 6, and a 161-carat stone inMarch. In total, the company has ret...Read More

Diamond miner De Beers’ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) for the six months ended June 30 decreased by 27% year-on-year to $518-million.Challenging trading and economic conditions in the period under review contributed to the lower Ebitda.AdvertisementThe diamond miner cited a number of challenges for rough diamond sales in the reporting period, resulti...Read More

RAPAPORT... US retail sales rose in June, amid improved consumersentiment and a healthier economic outlook, according to the National RetailFederation (NRF). Total purchase value grew 2.3% year on year in June, withthe three-month moving average, which includes April, May and June sales, up3.7% over the same period a year ago. The moving average for the three monthsto May rose 3.3% over the y...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices pushed up on Thursday July 25, with firmer spot trades supporting the increases, sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $117 per tonne, up $2.03 per tonne. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines, cfr Qingdao: $116.92 per tonne, up $2.03 per tonne. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe low alumina fines, cfr...Read More

Prices for seaborne cargoes of premium hard coking coal tumbled on Thursday July 25, with pervading pessimism taking hold of this segment of the market.An August-loading cargo of premium low-vol hard coking coal was traded at $185.50 per tonne cfr China during the day, sources said. This sent the Fastmarkets index for premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang to $184.16 per tonne, down $5.62 per tonn...Read More

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly) – Diversified mining and marketing company Anglo American on Thursday announced its intention to return up to $1-billion to its shareholders through an immediate on-market share buyback programme to reduce the company’s issued share capital.The programme, which will be executed in two $500-million tranches, will end not later than March 31.AdvertisementInves...Read More

RAPAPORT... Shares in Petra Diamonds slipped 6% in early trading Monday after the minerreported it would lower its production for fiscal 2020. The company expects to produce about 3.8 million carats inthe financial year ending June 2020, as opposed to 3.9 million caratsin fiscal 2019, it said Monday. While run-of-mine production is expected toremain flat, the decrease will come from lower pro...Read More

Quality emerges at Galan's blue-chip lithium addressSPONSOREDgalan lithiumThe company said it had sought consultation from the two local First Nations communities earlier this year, with one not responding and Lake Babine Nation stating its "firm opposition".Read More

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Newfield Resources on Thursday approved the $29.4-million development of the Tongo diamond mine, in Sierra Leone, announcing that it would raise $30.5-million through the issue of unsecured corporate bonds.“We are delighted to have agreed a funding package that allows us to commence construction of the company’s flagship Tongo diamond mine de...Read More

Two Canadian mines will pilot University of British Columbia- (UBC-) led research that combats greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in mine tailings, the waste left over from ore mining.The technology, the UBC says, could drastically reduce the GHG emissions of mining operations and result in the world’s first GHG neutral mine.AdvertisementThe project – a col...Read More

There is some optimism in the markets because US-China trade talks are on the agenda again and expectations are running high for dovish talk from the European Central Bank (ECB) at its meeting later on Thursday July 25.Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data out on Wednesday was generally negative, apart from a pick-up in Japan’s figure.Asian equities are showing strength wit...Read More

Gains in the futures market failed to stimulate China's rebar prices on Thursday July 25, with sellers being under pressure to secure orders.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,920-3,960 yuan ($570-576) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,880-3,910 yuan per tonne, unchangedWeak demand attributed to bad weather over the past week resulted in rebar inventory levels at mills and the spot...Read More