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by Will Purcell

The diamond and specialty minerals stocks box score on Friday was an upbeat 107-71-132 although the TSX Venture Exchange rose five points to 584. This is becoming an all too common refrain, but last week's glimmer of optimism about rough diamond prices was once again more mirage than mirror, according to Paul Zimnisky's global rough diamond price index.

Last week, we applauded a 0.3-point rise to 149.5 points on Mr. Zimnisky's chart, although late-to-arrive data had lowered the index from a previous 149.7 points. This week, we are again cheering the index at 149.5 points. While there was no tardy data to lower the floor as has so often been the case over the past year, neither was there any gain in prices this week. Either way, the gyrations aside, the rough diamond price chart remains flattish for nine weeks now, as diamond miners and promoters aching for the promised upswing to begin undoubtedly feel like a hamster dashing along on a wheeled treadmill.

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