%% Accompanied by Mahiar Borhanjoo, Executive Director, DTC Sales, Varda Shine, CEO, DTC outlined noteworthy news from De Beers including a strong Indian market with retail growth for 2010 at 31%, the supply-demand equation being weighted in favour of demand because of stong deamind from India and China, better than expected US performance and lack of new supplies, and the finalization of a new sightholder list. %% Shine called the strong growth a great opportunity for diamantaires and thought it likely that the polished and rough diamond prices would be on the upward path. She further explained that even with a resolution to the Zimbabwe-KP standoff, the supply-demand gap was unlikely to close. Shine also noted that there has been an increased interest in diamonds as an investment option, but emphasized that though De Beers recognizes this as one of the reasons for people in India to buy diamonds, the organization would continue upholding diamonds as an embodiment of love. %%