Petra upbeat on diamond sales
Petra Diamonds said it was positive for its full-year due to strong demand for rough diamonds as it posted in-line $24.5m (£15.1m) profits for the six months to the end of December yesterday. The Aim-listed company said the diamond market continued to strengthen in 2011 and that it saw the average underlying price for its rough diamonds rising six to eight per cent at an auction this month.