* Sees India refined copper consumption around 650,000 T in 2018* Shipments from ASEAN, Japan to fill void left by Vedanta -CEO* Sees import reliance up to 41 pct from previous 28 pct (Adds comment from CEO interview, industry details)By Tom DalySHANGHAI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - India's refined copper consumption is set to more than double over the next eight years amid rising demand from the power, au...Read More

SHANGHAI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - India's refined copper consumption is set to more than double over the next eight years amid rising demand from the power, auto and consumer sectors, the chief executive of one of the country's top copper smelters said on Thursday.The nation's consumption of the metal is expected to rise to 1.433 million tonnes by 2026 from 650,000 tonnes in 2018, Birla Copper CEO J.C....Read More

Polished trading stable in 1 ct. and larger, withdealers optimistic for Black Friday and holiday season. Record Alibaba Singles'Day (11/11) sales of $30.8B boost outlook for e-commerce, despite concernsUS-China trade war will impact consumer spending. Rough market cautious. DeBeers cuts prices of small, low-quality goods by 5% to 15% amid slump in demand for and prices of polished melee. Christie'...Read More

Botswana Diamonds (LON:BOD) has bought Russian diamond miner Alrosa's 50% stake in their Sunland Minerals joint venture (JV) and the company said it is close to bringing a new partner into the project.In a statement, the company described the unnamed new investor as "a large diamond producer with new ideas and keen to find new kimberlites in Botswana," adding that the potential new partner will ac...Read More

The World Diamond Council (WDC) and the Civil Society Coalition (CSC) have called for an expanded definition of conflict diamonds at the launch of the 2018 Plenary Session of the Kimberley Process (KP) in Brussels, Belgium. The proposal, put forward by the government of Canada, looks to strengthen the scope by expanding the KP's official definition of what constitutes conflict diamonds.The propose...Read More

Trading quiet as dealers slowly return from Diwali break. Activity expectedto pick up from next week. Surat factories to remain closed or operate at lowcapacity. Rumored bankruptcies, weak rupee and tight liquidity dampened dealerand retail sentiment during festival. Data as of November 1: RoundRead More

RAPAPORT... Lisa Bridge will succeed her father Ed Bridge as CEO of BenBridge Jeweler, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Lisa Bridge became the retailer's first female president andchief operating officer last year. Since then, she has overhauled the jeweler'simage to help it appeal to a newer generation of consumers, the company saidTuesday. She will take over on January...Read More

RAPAPORT... Mumbai's Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) is considering allowingsynthetic-diamond trading on the exchange premises, its president told RapaportNews this week. Some members have asked management to reconsider its 2015ban on selling lab-grown diamonds anywhere in the BDB's vast office complex,Anoop Mehta said. The bourse will consult with members after the Diwalivacation season, and cou...Read More

RAPAPORT... A natural pearl and diamond pendant belonging to MarieAntoinette smashed its price estimate and capped off a record-breaking sale atSotheby's Geneva auction. The jewel went for $36.2 million, beating its presale valuationof $1 million to $2 million, and setting a new auction record for a naturalpearl, Sotheby's said Wednesday. All jewels on offer at the auction found abuyer, inclu...Read More

The World Diamond Council (WDC) and the Civil Society Coalition (CSC) this week voiced their strong support for an expanded definition of conflict diamonds at the launch of the 2018 Plenary Session of the Kimberley Process (KP), in Brussels, Belgium.The proposal, put forward by the government of Canada, looks to strengthen the scope by expanding the KP’s official definition of what constitut...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The World Diamond Council (WDC) and the Civil Society Coalition (CSC) voiced their strong support for an expanded definition of conflict diamonds at the Plenary Session of the Kimberley Process (KP) in Brussels.   The proposal, put forward by the government of Canada, looks to strengthen the scope by expanding the KP's official definition of what constitutes conflict diamonds...Read More

RAPAPORT... Stornoway Diamond Corporation has appointed a new CEO after reporting its third successive quarterly loss.  Patrick Godin, Stornoway's chief operating officer, willsucceed Matt Manson on January 1, the company said Wednesday. Stornoway recorded a net loss of CAD 37.6 million ($28.5million) for the third quarter after writing CAD 22.4 million ($16.9 million)off the value of i...Read More

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds (BOD) has completed the acquisition of Russian diamond miner Alrosa’s 50% interest in the Sunland Minerals joint venture (JV), giving BOD full ownership of the project.BOD on Thursday also announced that negotiations were under way with a potential new JV partner – a large diamond producer that is interested in acquiring 50% of the project and which has a s...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Registration has opened for the Third Jewelry Industry Summit taking place at the Tucson Convention Center before the AGTA GemFair, the organizers announced.   "The goal of this year's Summit is to enable attendees to use practical tools and resources to sustain responsible sourcing. The speakers and interactive programs will focus on what can be done immediately and by every...Read More

RAPAPORT... Bonhams will spotlight a 24.31-carat diamond at its upcomingFine Jewels sale in London, estimating it will fetch $1.7 million to $2.3million. The step-cut, D-color, internally flawless diamond belongsto aprivate collector, and will come to auction for the first time on December 5. The sale will feature several Kashmir sapphires, including acushion-shaped, 8.08-carat sapphire ring...Read More

Canadian miner Stornoway Diamonds has appointed a new CEO to succeed Matt Manson on January 1, it said on Wednesday, after reporting an adjusted third-quarter net loss of C$31.7-million, sending its shares down 12% on the TSX.Patrick Godin, currently the COO, will succeed Manson, who has been hailed as the driving force behind the acquisition, financing and development of the Renard diamond mine,...Read More

(IDEX Online) - In response to the needs of the Atlanta Jewelry Show (AJS) community, Executive Director Libby Brown announced the launch of two new feature areas for the 2019 spring event in Atlanta.   "As the buying habits of today's consumers evolve, independent retailers are adapting e-commerce strategies to enhance - not replace - their sales opportunities and grow their business," she...Read More

RAPAPORT... The World Diamond Council (WDC) has released its proposed newKimberley Process (KP) definition of conflict diamonds, which addresses abroader range of human-rights abuses. The definition describes them as "rough diamonds used bypublic security forces or private (including criminal or mercenary) armedgroups to acquire wealth through illegal control, bribery, taxation, extortionor d...Read More

RAPAPORT... Shares in Titan Company rose after the retailer reported growthin revenue and profit in the second fiscal quarter. Sales jumped 28% to INR 45.95 billion ($630.2 million) inthe three months ending September 30, while profit climbed 8% to INR 3.01billion ($41.3 million), the Indian company said last week. Jewelry sales grew29% to INR 35.8236.45billion ($491.3499.9million) during the...Read More

Germany-based fertilizer producer K+S AG (FRA:SDF1) has revised down its full-year earnings guidance after a severe drought hit production at its main mine network in the third quarter.The miner now expects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to come at between 570 and 630 million euros, compared to the 660 to 740 million euros previously forecast."The extr...Read More