IDEX Online Market Report – 02/04/09
April 02, 09
The 
The Ramat Gan market is showing some scarcity of goods, but also the establishment of price stability. Spirits are on the rise in Mumbai where some manufactureres are embarking on new production as local demands and overseas buyers slowly return. Movement is picking up in Hong Kong where demand is focused mainly on rounds, 2.00 cts and below, while the demand for 3.00+ cts remains soft.
We would like to wish all our readers a happy Passover and Easter. Our next market report will be published on April 23, following the holidays. 
The New York Market is continuing to pick up at a slow but constant pace. The Basel show, although not as successful as previous years, left exhibitors with a feeling of optimism with results outperforming the minimal expectations. As the market is slowly rebounding from the economic recession, the interest in goods has increased and traders are hoping that the performance in the second and third quarter of 2009 will compensate for the sluggish first quarter.
Demand for smaller goods of 0.05 to 0.15 cts is on the rise, as is the demand for 0.50+ carat fancy cuts. Carat sizes and larger in G-K / SI+ are moving against short supply and prices seem to have stabilized for these articles.
Rounds 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / pique, slow
 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / pique, slow 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / VS+, moving well
 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / VS+, moving well 1/5, D-J / VS+, slow
 1/5, D-J / VS+, slow 1/4-3/4, white / pique, moving
 1/4-3/4, white / pique, moving 0.25-0.90 cts, D-J / VS+, moving
 0.25-0.90 cts, D-J / VS+, moving 1.00-2.00 cts, D-J / VS+, moving
 1.00-2.00 cts, D-J / VS+, moving 1-5 cts, white / pique, slow
 1-5 cts, white / pique, slow 2.50+ cts, D-M / SI1+, good makes, certified, moving
 2.50+ cts, D-M / SI1+, good makes, certified, moving
Fancy Cuts Princesses, 1.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI+, moving
 Princesses, 1.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI+, moving Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1.00-2.00 cts, D-K / SI+, moving well
 Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1.00-2.00 cts, D-K / SI+, moving well Pears, Ovals and Emeralds, 0.25-2.00 (mainly 0.50+) cts, D-K / SI+, moving well
 Pears, Ovals and Emeralds, 0.25-2.00 (mainly 0.50+) cts, D-K / SI+, moving well
Antwerp
Trading levels have increased at the Belgium diamond exchange, with some even going so far as to call them "decent."  Although the Basel show did not do so well in terms of number of visitors and actual transactions, traders are nevertheless optimistic. A few buyers for rough were noted after a long absence, although they said they were not prepared to buy much as asking prices were still too high.The traders hope that this trend towards better conditions will continue, although they know that movement will slow with the upcoming holidays. 
Rounds 0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / pique,
 0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / pique, 
 0.005-0.15 cts, F-H / SI+, mediocre demand
 0.005-0.15 cts, F-H / SI+, mediocre demand 1/5, D-J / VS+, slightly picking up
 1/5, D-J / VS+, slightly picking up 1/4-3/4, white / pique, slow
 1/4-3/4, white / pique, slow 0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, mediocre demand
 0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, mediocre demand 1.00-2.00 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, mediocre demand
 1.00-2.00 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, mediocre demand 1.00-2.00 cts, G-L / SI1+, good makes, picking up
 1.00-2.00 cts, G-L / SI1+, good makes, picking up 3.00+ cts, across the board, slow
 3.00+ cts, across the board, slowFancy Cuts
 Princesses, Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1.00-2.00 cts, D-K / SI+, picking up
 Princesses, Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1.00-2.00 cts, D-K / SI+, picking up Marquises, Pears, Ovals, Emeralds and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, G-K / SI+, picking up
 Marquises, Pears, Ovals, Emeralds and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, G-K / SI+, picking up Tapers and Baguettes, 1/10-1/6, D-I / SI+, mediocre demand
 Tapers and Baguettes, 1/10-1/6, D-I / SI+, mediocre demandRamat Gan
Some movement was seen at the Israeli diamond exchange, with a few new orders placed. However, local traders are not buying much stock as they are headed for a slowdown of some weeks during the Passover holidays.There is a slight scarcity of polished goods being felt here and there is also some kind of price stablity being established. Outside of Israel, traders who participated at the Basel show were, for the most part, dissatistifed with its outcome.
Rounds
 0.005-0.15 cts, across the board, slow
 0.005-0.15 cts, across the board, slow 1/5, across the board, slow
 1/5, across the board, slow 1/4-3/8, white / pique, slow
 1/4-3/8, white / pique, slow 0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, demand up
 0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, demand up 0.70-0.90 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, picking up
 0.70-0.90 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, picking up 1.00-3.00 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, slow
 1.00-3.00 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, slow 1.00-2.50 cts, G-J / SI+, good makes, further picking up
 1.00-2.50 cts, G-J / SI+, good makes, further picking up 3.00+ cts, across the board, slow
 3.00+ cts, across the board, slowFancy Cuts
 Princesses and Pears, 1.00-2.50 cts, G-J / SI+, mediocre demand
 Princesses and Pears, 1.00-2.50 cts, G-J / SI+, mediocre demand All other fancy cuts, 1.00+ cts, across the board, slow
 All other fancy cuts, 1.00+ cts, across the board, slowMumbai
Some motion is being seen at the Mumbai diamond market, with local demands slowly flowing in. Some manufacturers are also showing signs of new production. The overseas buyers are very few but their presence is expected to rise. In general, traders say this should be the start of a pick up in activity, leading to a flow of optimisim.
Rounds
 0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / SI+, good demand
 0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / SI+, good demand 1/5, H-J / VS, slightly picking up
 1/5, H-J / VS, slightly picking up 1/4-3/4, white / pique, slow
 1/4-3/4, white / pique, slow 1/4-3/4, D-J / SI+, good makes, demand up
 1/4-3/4, D-J / SI+, good makes, demand up 0.80-0.90 cts, F-J / VVS, good demand
 0.80-0.90 cts, F-J / VVS, good demand 1.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI to pique, mediocre demand
 1.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI to pique, mediocre demand 1.00-2.50 cts, H-J / SI1+, good makes, selling, against short supply
 1.00-2.50 cts, H-J / SI1+, good makes, selling, against short supply 3.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, slow
 3.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, slowFancy Cuts
 Emeralds and Stabbes (wide baguettes), 1/4-3/4, D-J / VS+, picking up
 Emeralds and Stabbes (wide baguettes), 1/4-3/4, D-J / VS+, picking up Marquises, Pears and Hearts, 1/4-3/4, F-J / VS+, slow
 Marquises, Pears and Hearts, 1/4-3/4, F-J / VS+, slow Marquises, Pears and Hearts, 1.00-2.00 cts, H-J / VS+, slow
 Marquises, Pears and Hearts, 1.00-2.00 cts, H-J / VS+, slow All fancy cuts, 3.00+ cts, across the board, slow
 All fancy cuts, 3.00+ cts, across the board, slowFar East
The Hong Kong diamond maket is experiencing a further pick up in movement with demand for polished materializing into actual sales. Demand is focused mainly on rounds, 2.00 cts and below, while the demand for 3.00+ cts remains soft. Payments are still slow and problematic, especially as a few traders have still not cleared the payments for the larger sizes that they sold a few months back. Nevertheless, this center is enjoying the improvement in the meantime and hope it is not just a temporary phase.
Rounds
 0.005-0.15 cts, white / SI2 to pique, mediocre demand
 0.005-0.15 cts, white / SI2 to pique, mediocre demand 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / SI1+, good makes, selling
 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / SI1+, good makes, selling 1/5, G-J / VS+, slightly picking up
 1/5, G-J / VS+, slightly picking up 1/4-3/4, white / pique, mediocre demand
 1/4-3/4, white / pique, mediocre demand 1/4-3/4, H-J / SI+, picking up
 1/4-3/4, H-J / SI+, picking up 1.00-2.00 cts, H-L / SI+, further picking up
 1.00-2.00 cts, H-L / SI+, further picking up 1.00-5.00 cts, D-J / pique, slightly picking up
 1.00-5.00 cts, D-J / pique, slightly picking up 3.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, slow
 3.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, slowFancy Cuts
 Princesses and Emeralds, 1/10-1/3, H-K / SI+, slow
 Princesses and Emeralds, 1/10-1/3, H-K / SI+, slow Princesses, Radiants and Emeralds, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand
 Princesses, Radiants and Emeralds, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand Marquises, Pears, Ovals and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand
 Marquises, Pears, Ovals and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand Tapers and Baguettes, 1/10-1/2, H-J / VS+, slow
 Tapers and Baguettes, 1/10-1/2, H-J / VS+, slow