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Weekly Comments 11/05/99
Nov 5, 1999 12:01 AM
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ROUNDS
New York relatively quiet for this time of year but dealers expect market volume to increase significantly as holiday season approaches. Overall U.S. retail healthy with Zales comparative store sales up 10 percent and total store sales up 27 percent. Strong memo demand for 5/4 sizes but competition is fierce and buyers price sensitive. Shipping companies may be making more than dealers; 3 caraters got hot, 4's extremely tight. Oversizes bringing large premiums if you can find them. Good demand and prices for 10 ct sizes. Antwerp rough market mellow and happy with small sight. Israel polished exports up 17percent through November to $3.5 billion.
FANCIES
The fancy market is improving slightly with strong demand in the better color D-G, medium quality VS2-SI goods. Oversizes very scarce and bringing serious premiums. Princess and Emerald Cuts very hot, especially in 6/4-4ct, D- G,VS-SI. Radiants okay. Pear Shapes getting much stronger. Smaller Ovals okay, 4/4 good but not as strong as they once were. 2 ct Ovals very good and very large ovals unavailable. Good demand for nice Marquises which have become extremely difficult to locate. Hearts dead. Decent memo demand but competition fierce and buyers picky. No shortage of off-makes which bring very weak prices.
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Tags:
Israel, Shipping Companies
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