Diamond prices goes up as demand increases

Everybody say diamonds are a girl's best friend, but they could be a man's worst enemy--if predictions of increasing prices come true.

Experts be expecting double-digit increases by the end of the year or early next year and they say prices will keep rising over the next four years.

Experts say the biggest increases will be for the really superior diamonds, with the best cut, clarity, color and size--as opposed to diamonds that are less perfect or rare.

But Jay Feder Jewelers says the increasing direction of diamond prices is not a sure thing--thanks to European and U.S. economies slowing the economy of China and India.

"The buying in Indian and Chinese markets has dried up a bit. So, it does not signify we are not expected to see price increases. We very well could, particularly if their trade starts to go one more time. Currently, we’ve seen quite a pullback from the Indian and Chinese markets," says JJ Slatkin of Jay Feder Jewelers.

The potential for price hikes doesn't seem to diffuse the sparkle in the eyes of potential future buyers.

"It's about the person I'm giving it to. And how much it would mean to them. It doesn't subject how much it costs," says Denver resident David Chung.

However others say even though a diamond is forever--a flush bank account isn't.

"Whatever would fit in my budget," says Bob Cook of Denver.

Diamond experts say India, China and the Middle East will account for 40-percent of the global diamond insist in three years.

Just six years before, they accounted for 8-percent.

GLOBAL MARKETS: European Stocks Rise; Bullish Tone Exists

European stock markets push top Tuesday, with shares in London leading the way, as market participants are seemingly hopeful about the global economic outlook in the year ahead.

Equity markets are expected to trade powerfully through 2011 on a combination of multiple expansion and earnings growth, told Royal Bank of Scotland. It added that increasing optimism around the U.S. economy may contribute to pro-equity asset allocation flows, while in Europe, earnings-per-share growth could be just over 20%, as the global economy helps the top line, while domestic labor market slack ensures favorable unit labor cost trends persist.

"Our Stoxx Europe 600 year-end target of 320 implies circa 15% upside from present levels, and would see the market multiple rise to 12x 2011 earnings [currently around 11x]," added RBS.

Moscow International Business Center

High budget deficits and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis caused the financial crisis of 1998and resulted in further GDP decline. On 31 December 1999 President Yeltsin resigned, handing the post to the recently appointed Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, who then won the 2000 presidential election.

Putin suppressed the Chechen insurgency, although sporadic violence still occurs the Northern Caucasus. High oil prices and initially weak currency followed by increasing domestic demand, consumption and investments has helped the economy grow for nine straight years, improving the standard of living and increasing Russia's influence on the world stage.

While many reforms made during the Putin presidency have been generally criticized by Western nations as un-democratic, Putin's leadership over the return of order, stability, and progress has won him widespread popularity in Russia.