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☆ The diamond industry is in trouble as it loses its sparkle in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In China, the industry's second-largest market, lab-grown varieties, a sluggish luxury market, and low marriage rates are causing it to lose its sparkle. Related storiesCook said one issue is a shift in perception of lab-grown diamonds in the country. The Knot's Real Weddings Study found that nearly half of engagement rings bought in the US last year featured a lab-grown diamond as a center stone. A social media analysis by Daxue Consulting found that lab-grown diamonds are also gaining traction in China, particularly among cash-strapped younger people. Even so, De Beers recently announced that it would halt its six-year experiment with selling lab-grown diamond jewelry.

Persons: —, Duncan Wanblad, De Beers, Wanblad, Al Cook, Cook, Paul Zimnisky, Zimnisky Organizations: Service, Financial, Business, Financial Times, Daxue Consulting Locations: China, De Beers

☆ Diamond industry 'in trouble' as lab-grown gemstones tank prices further
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Diamond prices have fallen 5.7% so far this year, according to Zimnisky's rough diamond index, declining more than 30% from their all-time high in 2022. Lab-grown diamonds, which can be up to 85% cheaper than natural diamonds, are made in a controlled environment using extreme pressure and heat. Lab-grown diamond sales have surged from just 2% of the global diamond jewelry market in 2017 to 18.4% in 2023, according to data provided by Zimnisky. An industry 'in trouble'"The diamond industry is in trouble," Daga told CNBC, adding that he believes natural diamond prices could fall another 15%-20% over the next 12 months. Similar to a natural diamond, a lab-grown diamond is graded based on the 4Cs — clarity, color, cut and carat weight.

Persons: Leon Neal, Duncan Wanblad, De, Paul Zimnisky, De Beers, Marcelo Esquivel, Ankur Daga, Daga, Anish Aggarwal, Lionel Bonaventure Organizations: Afp, Getty, De, BHP, Financial Times, De Beers, CNBC, Daxue Consulting, Bloomberg, Zimnisky Locations: Harrods, London, De Beers, American, China, U.S

☆ Miner Anglo American rejects third takeover offer from rival BHP Group as talks deadline extended
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)LONDON — Anglo American rejected a third takeover proposal from rival BHP Group on Wednesday, as the companies agreed to extend talks deadline by one week. The British miner confirmed the third proposal from BHP offered about £29.34 per Anglo American share, based on undisturbed share prices as of market close on April 23. Shares of Anglo American were up 0.35% shortly after the announcement, while BHP shares fell over 3.4%. The combined companies would form a behemoth in copper mining and the world's largest player in the space, supplying 10% of global output, according to a Reuters analysis. Anglo rejected both previous offers, however, saying that they "significantly undervalue the company and its future prospects."

Persons: Stuart Chambers, Chambers, Duncan Wanblad Organizations: BHP, William WEST, WILLIAM WEST, Getty, BHP Group, London Stock Exchange, Limited, Iron Ore Limited, Rio Tinto Locations: Melbourne, Australian, AFP, American, London, Australia

☆ Diamond giant De Beers faces spin-off amid wider restructuring as Anglo American takeover pressure mounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Diamond rings are displayed in a cabinet inside a De Beers SA store in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. Photographer: Calvin Sit/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAnglo American plans to spin off its highly prized De Beers diamond unit as part of a sweeping restructuring of its 107-year-old business as it seeks to fend off persistent takeover bids from mining rival BHP Group . The British miner said in a statement Tuesday that De Beers could be divested or demerged to "improve strategic flexibility." CEO Duncan Wanblad said the restructure, which represents "the most radical changes to Anglo American in decades," would help streamline the business and provide greater value to shareholders. The announcement comes just a day after Anglo rejected an improved takeover proposal from BHP.

Persons: Bruce Cleaver, Calvin Sit, De Beers, Duncan Wanblad, Wanblad, — Organizations: De Beers SA, Bloomberg, Getty, BHP Group, BHP Locations: Hong Kong, China, London

☆ We saw weak demand in diamond and PGM markets in 2023, says Anglo American CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe saw weak demand in diamond and PGM markets in 2023, says Anglo American CEODuncan Graham Wanblad, CEO of Anglo American, discusses the mining industry and the macroeconomic picture after its full-year earnings.

Persons: Duncan Graham Wanblad Locations: American

☆ South Africa targets $111 billion investment goal in tough investor climate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on as he delivers the opening address at the 5th Investment Conference to showcase opportunities available in the country to local and international companies, in Sandton, South Africa, April 13, 2023. Jairus Mmutle/Government Communication Information System (GCIS)/Handout via REUTERSJOHANNESBURG, April 13 (Reuters) - South Africa needs to urgently fix energy, transport and security challenges if it is to reverse souring investor sentiment, executives said on Thursday as President Cyril Ramaphosa targets 2 trillion rand ($111 billion) in new investments over the next five years. "The way we see it for the future of South Africa, international investment is so important and these challenges make it difficult for us to position the potential of South Africa as an attractive investment destination while there is uncertainty on when reforms will be implemented," Brown said. South Africa has experienced its worst power cuts on record, leaving businesses and households in the dark for up to 10 hours daily. The South African Reserve Bank estimates these blackouts have shaved off at least 2 percentage points from growth.

☆ Miners’ bets on the future of coal are diverging
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Investors have a common understanding that coal is the dirtiest energy source. UK-listed Anglo American’s (AAL.L) earnings on Thursday showed EBITDA in the $50 billion group’s metallurgical coal division tripled to over $2.7 billion in 2022. With “met coal” constituting a fifth of Anglo’s overall EBITDA, investors may wonder whether boss Duncan Wanblad will follow Teck’s step. That’s probably because even though met coal generates three times more carbon than thermal coal, used to generate electricity, it’s still expensive to produce steel at scale in a sustainable way without using a coal-guzzling blast furnace. Anglo’s experiences hiving off its own thermal coal business, meanwhile, may not encourage Wanblad to repeat the trick.

The group said estimated it would spend around $1 billion a year to bring the Woodsmith project in north-east England to production by 2027. The mine has the world's largest known deposit of polyhalite, a multi-nutrient fertiliser. It now expects first production from 2027, reaching around 5 million tonnes per annum by 2030, from a previous estimate of 2024 with output of 10 million tonnes a year in the initial phase. "And then depending on how we shape and develop the markets from there, we will expand it from the 5 million tonnes to the 13 million tonnes," Chief Executive Duncan Wanblad told reporters. ($1 = 0.8293 pounds)Reporting by Clara Denina; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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