First Guangzhou Rough Tender Sells Out

RAPAPORT... The inaugural tender of rough stones at the GuangzhouDiamond Exchange (GDE) brought in nearly $6 million in sales, the Chinesebourse said Friday. The GDE sold all the available parcels, which contained over230,000 carats of industrial and gem-quality diamonds from mines in Africa. Sales exceeded theexchange's expectations, with prices comparable to those at tenders takingplace in other international diamond-trading cities, the organization noted. Approximately 50 companies from China, Belgium, the UnitedArab Emirates, India and Israel attended the event.