IDEX Price Report for March: Market Remains Weak

(IDEX Online) - The market remains weak and the overall trend remains downward, more so among rounds than fancies. Less overall activity in either direction than we have seen in many recent months. In a weak market like this, consumers keep on buying, but spend less, which means more activity among commercial goods, namely lower colors and clarities.

Rounds

Price drops dominated yet again, although there was more mixed activity among goods over 2.00-cts. Most of the activity was in commercial goods, with demand for top qualities still weak. Very little movement in goods under 0.80-cts, except for price surges among most L-M goods in 0.18-cts to 0.29-cts. In 1.00-cts to 1.24-cts there was a cluster of price drops among F+ and VS2+ goods.

Highlighted changes

Rounds

0.18-0.22 ct. I / VS1-2 -5.0-6.0%, L-M / VVS1-SI3 +7.5-16.5%   

1.00-1.24 ct. D-E / IF-VS2 -1.0-3.5%

4.00-4.99 ct. E-M / SI3 -1.0-7.0%, H / IF-VS2 +1.0-2.5%

Fancy Cuts

1.00-1.24 ct. E-F / VVS2 +1.5% 

1.50-1.99 ct. D-E / IF +1.0-2.0%, G-H / IF -2.0-2.5% 

4.00-4.99 ct. E-H / IF +1.0-2.5%, F / VVS1-VS2 -1.0-2.0% 

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