Diamonds To Outpace Gold

Published on 05/01/12

Diamond prices are poised to rise for the next four years, outpacing gold, as increased spending on luxury goods in China, India and the Middle East outpaces supplies of the precious stone, analysts said.

Average prices for rough, or uncut, diamonds will probably climb 9 percent to $145 a carat next year, 1.4 percent in 2013 and 4.8 percent in 2014, according to Edward Sterck, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets. They may gain 2.6 percent in 2015 and 3.2 percent in 2016, he said. Gold will drop for three years starting 2013, following a 19 percent gain in 2012, according to the median of seven analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.