(IDEX Online) - Rounds showed further signs of a recovery during December, although fancies fared less well. There is a general sense that prices are bottoming out after almost two years of relentless decline and that the general trend now will be upwards.
Holiday spending in the US was a little disappointing, down 2.0 per cent year on year, but the overall direction of travel seems to be positive.
A squeeze on rough supplies, including India's two-month voluntary ban, have helped, although there's now uncertainty about how the G7 sanctions will be implemented and what effect they'll have.
Rounds
There was a more even mix of increases and decreases than we have seen in recent months, although price drops still dominate in goods over 3.0-cts. Large clusters of price increases in 0.70-cts to 0.79-cts and 1.50-cts to 1.99-cts and more movement upwards than downwards among 1.0-ct goods and some other key sizes
Fancies
Fancies, which have fared better than rounds of late, saw price drops dominate in most sizes. There was little movement in under 0.50-cts. In most sizes above 1.25-cts there were price drops primarily among better colors and clarities. Some clusters of price increases notably among 3.0-cts and 4.0-cts.
Highlighted changes
Rounds
1.50-1.99 ct. H-I / VVS1-SI3 +1-5%, D / IF-SI1 -1-4%
2.00-2.99 ct. D-H / VVS2-VS2 -1.5-5%, I-L / VS1-2 +1.5-3%
4.00-4.99 ct. D-I / IF-VVS2 -0.5-4%
Fancy Cuts
0.70-0.79 ct. D-E / VS2-SI1 +1-3.5%, E-F / IF-VVS2 -1-2%
1.25-1.49 ct. D-F / IF-SI1 -1-4%
2.00-2.99 ct. D-F / IF-VS1 -0.5-4.5%
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