Industrial exports increase by 6% to $1.9bn in first 7 months of 2011

September 18, 2011

Figures released by the Ministry of Industry show that industrial exports totaled $2.04bn in the first 7 months of 2011, constituting an increase of 5.9% from $1.9bn in the same period last year, as reported by Lebanon This Week, the economic publication of the Byblos Bank Group.

GOING GLOBAL WITH GEMS

Malaika Arora Khan displays a collection at the
recent India International Jewellery Week Photo: AFP

It seems the ‘hunger’ of the rich and famous for gems and jewellery is increasing by the year! No wonder India, renowned since millenniums for its treasures of gold and diamonds, is once again in the news.

Rubies in the sky with diamonds

Prices are up, thanks to extravagant Asians and edgy Westerners

That nervy investors pile into gold is well known: the price of the yellow metal breached $1,900 an ounce again this week. But growing numbers are also venturing farther afield, into gemstones such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Although coloured stones are a hotch-potch of an asset class, anecdotal evidence points to surging values.