Melrose Jewelers , Usa’s #1 Online Rolex Retailer, Today Announced That It Has Become the # 1 Online Rolex Retailer in Mississippi Including Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Greenville, and Meridian
Melrose Jewelers , USA’s #1 Online Rolex Watch Retailer, today announced that it has become the #1 Online Rolex Retailer in Mississippi including Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Greenville, and Meridian. In Q2 and Q3 2010 Melrose Jewelers’ revenue from Mississippi jumped over 74% over the same period last year.
Vanessa Puzio of Melrose Jewelers states, “Fashion in the south is all about simplicity and formality. The summer and fall Rolex collection from our website encapsulate these themes, leading to our immense popularity in Mississippi during Q2 and Q3. With luxury buyers emerging from the recession, it’s our goal to offer them the best value, most comprehensive warranty, and of course, the largest selection. Since 2004 we’ve worked to position Melrose Jewelers as a market leader, and we’re delighted to finally claim that title in Mississippi.”
Several of the Rolex watch models customized for the Mississippi market including Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Greenville, and Meridian include: (visit Melrose Jewelers and enter the 3-digit code in the search box).
1) Men’s Champagne Dial Full Pave Rolex Day Date Super President (102)
2) Men’s Champagne Dial Channel Set Bezel Rolex Day Date President (103)
3) Men’s Two Tone Black Stick Dial Smooth Bezel Rolex Datejust (654)
4) Ladies Two Tone Oyster Silver Dial Smooth Bezel Rolex Datejust (544)
5) Ladies Two Tone Champagne Dial Smooth Bezel Rolex Datejust (918)
About Melrose Jewelers
Melrose Jewelers is the nation’s leading online retailer of Rolex wrist watches including mens watches and ladies luxury watches and its associates have, collectively, over 220 years of experience in importing, restoring, and retailing Rolex watches and other luxury watches. Melrose Jewelers was founded with one simple premise: Buying Rolex watches or other luxury watches shouldn’t be mysterious or complicated. Similar to the innovative yet simple business models of Progressive Insurance, CarMax, or Blue Nile, Melrose Jewelers provides customers with low, no-haggle pricing, luxury Rolex watches that are either new and unworn or pre owned and restored to original factory specifications both inside and outside, and a comprehensive 2-year warranty. Melrose Jewelers also employs a staff of top university-educated Trained Experts that provide customer service that extends from your initial sales call until years after you’ve received your purchase. Melrose Jewelers is a proud member of the Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee, the Manufacturers and Jewelers Association of America, the International Watch & Jewelry Guild, the National Association of Watch Collectors, and the California Sheriff’s Association. Melrose Jewelers uses only Conflict-Free Diamonds and those imported through the Kimberley Process as signed into act by U.S. Congress in 2003. Melrose Jewelers is not an authorized agent or affiliated with Rolex Watches, Rolex USA, Rolex S.A., Rolex International, Breitling, or Patek Philippe luxury watches. Rolex Day Date, Rolex President, Rolex GMT Master, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, Rolex PearlMaster, Rolex Masterpiece, Rolex Super President, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Yacht-Master, Rolex Explorer and Rolex Sea Dweller are all trademarks of Rolex S.A. Melrose Jewelers’ watches contain custom, aftermarket diamonds which will void the warranty of new Rolex watches. Melrose Jewelers warranties its watches directly and Rolex S.A. has no obligation to warranty any watches sold by Melrose Jewelers.
Melrose Jewelers also hosts the Melrose Jewelers (MJ) Rolex Watch Blog and Melrose Jewelers Facebook Page. The MJ Rolex Watches Blog is the world’s largest independent forum website about Rolex events and Rolex and other luxury watches in pop culture. With over 300 user-posted articles and new articles and commentary updated daily, the Melrose Jewelers Facebook Page and Rolex watches blog contains articles about Rolex watches owned and popularized by Barack Obama, Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sienna Miller, Sean Penn, Courtney Cox, Andy Roddick, LeBron James, Tara Reid, Danica Patrick, Matthew McConaughey, Steven Wynn, Calvin Klein, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Eva Longoria Parker, Tobey Maguire, Michael Dell, Ashton Kutcher, the Jonas Brothers, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Adriana Lima, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Murray, Barry White, Anne Hathaway, Michael Jackson, Tony Soprano, Lindsay Lohan, Eddie Murphy, Anish Kapoor, Tom Selleck, Jennifer Garner, Donald Trump, Jennifer Lopez, Lance Armstrong, John Mayer, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt, Drew Barrymore, Matt Lauer, Sophie Marceau, Tim Tebow, Jay-Z, Zara Phillips, O.J. Simpson, Madonna, Ana Ivanovic, Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Tupac Shakur, Cuba Gooding Jr, Lily Allen, & Wiley. Blog postings on the MJ Rolex Watch Blog, which include articles about the Mens Rolex Super President, are submitted by independent Rolex enthusiasts and not by Melrose Jewelers.
About the Melrose Jewelers Mississippi website:
Melrose Jewelers, Mississippi’s #1 Online Rolex Retailer, is available at MelroseJewelers.com. Melrose Jewelers caters towards Mississippi cities including Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Greenville, Meridian, Tupelo, Southaven, Vicksburg, Pascagoula, Columbus, Clinton, Pearl, Starkville, Olive Branch, Clarksdale, Ridgeland, Natchez, Greenwood, Laurel, Long Beach, Ocean Springs, Brandon, Moss Point, Grenada, Madison, Yazoo City, Horn Lake, Corinth, Cleveland, McComb, Canton, West Point, Indianola, Oxford, Gautier, Picayune, Brookhaven, Booneville, Bay St. Louis, Holly Springs, D’Iberville, New Albany, Petal, Byram, Kosciusko, Philadelphia, Batesville, Louisville, and Amory by offering a variety of Rolex watches plus the Rolex Watch Band.
Interested customers and media can visit MelroseJewelers.com to find out about items including: Melrose Jewelers Reviews , Melrose Jewelers Rolex Watch Blog , Melrose Jewelers Rolex , Melrose Jewelers Rolex Watch , Melrose Jewelers Store , Melrose Jewelers Rolex Watch Store , Melrose Jewelers Watches , Melrose Jewelers Watch, Melrose Jewelers press release and Melrose Jewelers address as well as about regional stores including Melrose Jewelers Los Angeles , Melrose Jewelers California , Melrose Jewelers USA , Melrose Jewelers Canada , Melrose Jewelers Mexico , Melrose Jewelers Australia , Melrose Jewelers U.K., which includes a wide selection of the Rolex Day Date President, Melrose Jewelers UAE and Melrose Japan.

LJ International Inc. (LJI) (JADE 5.10, +0.03, +0.59%) today announced that the Company’s ENZO retail line of products have been ranked as one of the top four most desired luxury brands for jewelry in a survey assessing consumer preferences. The survey was conducted among consumers in the metropolitan Shanghai region.

The leading Chinese business publication, CBNweekly, (October 11, 2010 edition), ranked ENZO along with major foreign brands in two categories — “brand recognition” and “demonstrated buyer preference”. ENZO placed fourth in each category, among a group that included Cartier, Tiffany and Bulgari. ENZO placed ahead of other high-end jewelers including: Gucci, Mikimoto, Graff, Pomelatto, Oxette, George Jensen and Chanel.

ENZO is the retail division of LJ International, currently operating more than 124 stores throughout China, including 20 operations in Shanghai alone.

“The survey results confirm ENZO’s status as a retail brand regarded as world-class by sophisticated, affluent Chinese consumers,” stated LJI’s Chairman and CEO, Yu Chuan Yih. “This distinction is especially gratifying because the ENZO brand is only five years old. To be compared to brands going back a century or more is a sign of our rapid progress in establishing a reputation for top-quality, as well as sophisticated and contemporary design.”

CBNweekly is a publication of First Financial, a cross-media, cross-regional, cross-industry professional financial information provider. First Financial serves Chinese investors and the global Chinese economic community by providing real-time, rigorous, high-quality and in-depth analysis of financial news to create a financial information platform of international influence.

About LJ International Inc. LJ International Inc. (LJI) (JADE 5.10, +0.03, +0.59%) is engaged in the designing, branding, marketing and distribution of its full range of jewelry which reflects today’s consumer preference for affordable luxury. It has built its global business on a vertical integration strategy, and an unwavering commitment to quality and service. Through its China-based ENZO retail chain stores, LJI is now a major presence in China’s fast-growing retail jewelry market. As a wholesaler, it distributes to fine jewelers, department stores, national jewelry chains and electronic and specialty retailers throughout North America and Western Europe. Its product lines incorporate all major categories, including earrings, necklaces, pendants, rings and bracelets.

Patricia Arquette, Rosetta Getty, Debra Messing, Maria Bello, Amber Valletta, Patti Hansen and Stars Come Together for Haiti Disaster Relief

GiveLove, the non-profit organization supporting relief efforts for displaced victims in Haiti and The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection, came together for a private dinner on October 23 in Beverly Hills to raise immediate funding efforts for Haiti relief victims.
The benefit dinner sponsored by The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection included GiveLove co-founders *Rosetta Getty and *Patricia Arquette along with *Debra Messing, *Maria Bello, Joaquin Phoenix, Amber Valetta, *Patti Hansen, *Theodora Richards, Rebecca Gayheart, Eric Dane, Rosanna Arquette, Balthazar Getty, and *Shiva Rose.
“With the current cholera outbreak happening in Haiti it is more evident now than ever to stress the importance of sanitation systems,” GiveLove co-founder Patricia Arquette said. “We’re appreciative to work with The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection to host this dinner in raising funds for our immediate programs.”
Many guests wore jewelry from The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection and all received a special “Everlon Diamond Knot Collection for GiveLove” bracelet that will be available at retailers nationwide for $295 and 10% of proceeds will benefit GiveLove. Call 1.877.699.7817 or visit GiveLove.org for ordering information.

GiveLove is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to rebuild communities, homes and livelihoods for displaced Haitian earthquake survivors; founded by Patricia Arquette and Rosetta Getty in 2009. GiveLove’s current initiatives include creating inexpensive sanitation systems for displaced people in Haiti living without clean water, as well as building accessible housing units. The non-profit organization is also developing and testing sustainable cooking alternatives, organizing clean up and environmental programs for communities and revitalizing local agriculture by working with local communities to revive gardens and assist small farmers.

About The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection
The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection is a tribute to the strength of love. For centuries the knot has been a symbol of strength and for countless cultures it embodies the unbreakable bond of love. Held fast with all these traditions the Everlon Diamond Knot Collection, based on the Hercules Knot, showcases the strength of love forged in a knot, a symbol that even in the toughest of times, the strength of your love will never waver.
The Everlon Diamond Knot Collection is available nationwide, for retailers visit ADiamondIsForever.com.
*Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Jewelry Credits:

Patricia Arquette: Everlon Diamond Knot Pave Studs and Pave Knot By The Yard Chain

Rosetta Getty: Everlon Diamond Knot Collection by Me & Ro Yellow Gold Pendant and Rose Cut Pave Ring

Debra Messing: Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Oxidized Tassel Earrings and Oxidized Two Knot Ring

Maria Bello: Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Three Link Chain Necklace

Patti Hansen: Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Three Row Earrings

Theodora Richards: Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Oxidized Oval Earrings and Oxidized Three Row Cuff

Shiva Rose: Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Drop Earrings and Bangle Bracelet

Risk and compliance screening and data management specialist, Datanomic, announced today that its expertise of helping Financial Services organisations achieve and maintain regulatory compliance has been extended to the Manufacturing, Logistics and Export Supply Chain Management industries with a new dedicated solution to ensure export compliance. Datanomic’s Denied Party Screening provides all companies engaged in international export with an exceptionally accurate and configurable solution for screening against Denied Party lists or ‘Denied Trade Lists’ to ensure compliance with international legislation.
Manufacturers, Supply Chain Management (SCM) solution providers and Third Party Logistics (3PL) companies must comply with a raft of different national and international sanctions regulations intended to prevent the flow of restricted goods, or shipments to sanctioned individuals, entities and embargoed countries. Compliance failures are already impacting upon these industries, with multi-million dollar fines and prison sentences for criminal prosecutions pursued by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In Germany, for example, a serious sanctions breach is on a par with a capital crime in terms of punishment, and can result in a €1 million fine and 15 years imprisonment. In the 2009/2010 fiscal year, the US Bureau of Industry & Security issued almost $15 million in fines and 886 months of imprisonment to US companies and individuals for violating export regulations, with US fines and penalties for non-compliance increasing by five fold in recent years.
“Unfortunately many exporters, SCM and 3PL providers either lack awareness of their obligation to screen, or their existing screening processes are insufficient,” said Simon Pearson, Vice President Risk & Compliance Screening for Datanomic. “With multiple, frequently-updated ‘Denied Party’ or ‘Denied Trade’ lists to comply with, effective screening can appear an overwhelming task., A third party logistics provider can also fall foul of the regulations, even though they aren’t the company directly engaging in the sale to the denied party, as they carry the burden of responsibility if a shipment is made to a sanctioned country or individual, or if restricted goods are carried. Likewise, in order to obtain the Authorised Economic Operator certification (which is becoming more frequently required) logistics providers must ensure Denied Party Compliance and therefore need to have a robust and reliable screening solution in place. Ultimately, anyone shipping internationally needs to know who they are dealing with in order ensure that their export services are not exploited by money launderers, terrorists/terrorism financiers, fraudsters or other criminal and sanctioned individuals or entities.”
Many governments, including the US, are sharpening their focus on the shipping and logistics industries to ensure that sanctions put in place against countries, entities and individuals are not undermined by lax security in these industries. As a result, many have now mandated that all exports must be screened, regardless of the type of product, quantities or destination.
“By deploying Datanomic’s Denied Party Screening, exporters are benefiting from the most advanced, flexible, and tailorable denied party screening solution currently available; one whose core technology has been extensively proven in the tightly-regulated financial services industry,” continued Pearson. “Leading international logistics and distribution organisation, Deutsche Post DHL, is already using Datanomic’s technology to screen its customers, partners and extended supply chain against the international sanctions and denied party lists.”
Denied Party screening enables exporters and carriers to check all companies and individuals involved in their supply chain, including partners, associates, vessel owners/managers, freight forwarders, parent/subsidiary relationships, as well as protect against theft from supply chains, which costs the industry more than €8.2 billion a year in the EU alone.
Datanomic’s Denied Party Screening solution has a strong pedigree – it is the latest Risk & Compliance screening solution from a company whose software solutions are now systematically checking more than five billion client records every month.
Datanomic’s solutions have already been implemented by some of the world’s largest banks, insurers, asset and wealth managers and other financial services institutions to reduce their global Compliance risk, and this pattern is now spreading to other industries. In addition to the parcel, freight forwarding and logistics industry, Datanomic’s software is being adopted in other non-financial services industries that require stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance requirements, such as the diamond and tobacco industries. The company forecasts acceleration in the adoption of its technology across diverse industries facing ever-increasing Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, and Risk & Compliance requirements. Datanomic was recently ranked 11th in The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 for the fastest growing technology companies in the UK.
Datanomic’s Denied Party Screening solution is available from today and more information can be found on the company’s website at www.datanomic.com
About Datanomic
Datanomic’s flagship enterprise Data Management and Compliance Screening software, dn:Director, helps organizations save money, remain compliant with legislation, streamline business processes, reduce waste and seize more opportunities. dn:Director’s broad capabilities enable organizations to identify and eradicate problems in customer, financial and product data, improve compliance performance, and better manage business risk. Based in Cambridge, UK, with offices in New York and Singapore, Datanomic was founded in 2001 and is backed by DN Capital.
For further information, please contact:
Jeremy Jones
Datanomic Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 228418

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) and the Mining Association of Canada(MAC) today issued the following statement in response to the defeat of Bill C-300, a private member’s bill entitled An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries in the House of Commons:
“Canada’s mining and exploration industry, which employs more than 306,000 Canadians, is pleased that the Parliament of Canadasaw the importance of defeating Bill C-300, a fundamentally flawed private member’s bill that would have damaged Canada’s exploration and mining industry and jeopardized jobs here in Canada and the local jobs in the communities in which we work. We appreciate the efforts of the Government of Canada in exposing the flaws of the bill and in working to defeat it in the House.
Canada’s mining and exploration industry is already actively engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility practices and Bill C-300 would not have enhanced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Canada’s competitors would have used the passage of Bill C-300 as a tool to undermine the competitiveness of Canadian firms in the highly competitive global extraction industry. Frivolous or vexatious claims would have been filed against Canadian firms by competitive interests at no cost or risk to themselves, tying up important projects and putting well paying local jobs and community development projects in developing countries at risk.
Canada’s exploration and mining companies recognize that good CSR is the right thing to do. Canada has 1,800 exploration and mining companies operating 10,000 projects in over 100 countries at any one time. Through our CSR initiatives, we work in partnership with community groups, governments and on the ground organizations to build capacity, provide infrastructure and social services, including schools, housing, roads, clean water and sanitation, as well as creating meaningful local jobs in the communities in which we operate.
Our industry’s CSR performance has significantly improved over the years and we remain committed to further improving our CSR. Companies are subject to all in-country laws and are held to high expectations by numerous domestic and international institutions, policies, frameworks, and standards. These include: Export Development Canada’s CSR policies, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the Equator Principles for project financing for extractive projects located in the developing world.
We believe that the independent Canadian CSR Counsellor – who has recently launched an independent and transparent review mechanism that was informed by extensive industry and NGO consultations – deserves a chance to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Office.
Canada’s exploration and mining industry looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada, the Office of the Independent Counsellor and all political parties on furthering Canada’s CSR regime, fostering constructive dialogue, continuing to improve the industry’s CSR performance, and advancing tangible on the ground results.”
About the PDAC:
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is a national association representing the mineral exploration and development industry. Its 7,000 individual and corporate members are involved in the exploration, discovery and development of new mines and new wealth in Canada and around the world. The PDAC’s annual convention is the world’s largest annual gathering of the mineral industry. PDAC 2011 will be held March 6-9 in Toronto.
About MAC:
Based in Ottawa, the Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members are engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.

The new sales and marketing strategy was implemented for the October 2010 tender which was extremely well attended and successful, achieving an average price of US$2 422 per carat (compared to a Q3 2010 average price of US$1 680 per carat).
An exceptional 196 carat white diamond was recovered at Let?eng at the end of August 2010. This diamond was not included in the October tender and will be sold separately as an exceptional diamond.
In the first nine months of 2010 Letseng sold 374 rough diamonds greater than 10.8 carats in size, equating to US$74.8 million (68% of revenue).
In the third quarter of 2010 alone, Letseng sold 21 rough diamonds at prices greater than US$20 000 per carat, including a 17.34 carat pink diamond which sold for US$67 474 per carat. For the nine months ended 30 September 2010, Let?eng sold 56 rough diamonds at prices in excess of US$20 000 per carat.
Ellendale:

Kimberley Diamonds and Laurelton Diamonds (Laurelton), a subsidiary of Tiffany & Co., agreed a 25% price increase for the exclusive assortment of rare fancy yellow diamonds from Kimberley’s Ellendale mine, effective from 1 October 2010. (During Q3 2010 the fancy yellow diamonds sold to Laurelton achieved an average price of US$2 792 per carat).
During Q3 2010 Ellendale achieved a combined average price of US$657 per carat for both its fancy yellow diamonds and commercial diamonds (US$505 per carat in Q3 2009).
Group:

The Group has US$99.6 million cash at the end of Q3 2010, of which US$78.5 million is attributable to Gem Diamonds; the Group has no debt.
Cost management remains a key focus, however mining costs at both Let?eng and Ellendale continue to be negatively impacted by the weakening of the US dollar against the Lesotho loti (the Lesotho loti is pegged to the South African rand) and the Australian dollar.
Health, Safety, Social and Environment (HSSE):

The Group’s continued focus on health and safety has resulted in another Lost Time Injury (LTI)-free quarter. Gem Diamonds has now completed a 12 month injury-free period (in excess of 3.9 million LTI-free manhours).
Gem Diamonds CEO, Clifford Elphick commented:

“Diamond prices have continued to strengthen, driven by continued demand mainly from the East. As part of the new sales and marketing arrangements for Let?eng, we have just completed our first tender which achieved a very good average price of US$2 422 per carat which is a 138% increase over prices achieved in the post crash lows (average US$ per carat Q1 2009). In addition, Letseng also recovered an exceptional 196 carat white diamond in August, which will be sold separately. At the first of the price reviews held with Tiffany & Co. for Ellendale’s rare fancy yellow diamonds, a 25% price increase was agreed with effect from 1 October 2010.
Whilst the continued strength of the Lesotho loti and the Australian dollar continue to put pressure on operating costs, we are driving forward our long term growth plans at Let?eng and Ellendale. Negotiations for a mining licence at Gope in Botswana are expected to be completed by year end. Gem Diamonds has US$100 million cash on the balance sheet and no debt. The achievement of a LTI-free 12 month period for the Group is a tribute to management’s consistent efforts in ensuring the health and safety of our employees and reflects the Group’s extremely well run mining operations.”
During Q3 2010, 4 581 carats of fancy yellow diamonds were sold to Laurelton at an average price of US$2 792 per carat. Recent negotiations have led to a 25% price increase on fancy yellow diamonds effective with effect from 1 October and the next six-monthly price review with Laurelton will take place in March 2011.
Since 1 July, Kimberley has held two sales of commercial diamonds; the first sale (held during Q3 2010) consisted of a smaller parcel of lower quality commercial diamonds (16 855 carats at an average price of US$76 per carat) and the second sale for a larger parcel of commercial diamonds which only closed on 5 October (24 349 carats at an average price of US$204 per carat). The average price for run of mine commercial diamonds from Ellendale from these two parcels is therefore US$151 per carat for the period of this report (compared to US$144 per carat in H1 2010).
3.Botswana

Gem Diamonds holds 100% of the shares in Gope Exploration Company (Gope). Gope is the holder of a Retention Licence covering the Gope 25 Kimberlite deposit. The retention licence has been extended to December 2010 and negotiations for a mining licence are ongoing and are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
4.Other assets

The Group is currently considering its options with regard to the Chiri project in Angola, which remains on care and maintenance and a desktop study has been completed to review the feasibility of a small low capital mine option. The options are being considered. The group continues to look at all options for the PT Galuh Cempaka mine in Indonesia including disposal.
The majority of assets and equipment at the CAR operations have been sold and management continues to liaise with the government on the remaining activities required in order to close down the holding company, Gem Diamond Centrafrique SA.

Some shoppers may be loosening their financial belts a bit this holiday season, but ongoing economic turbulence continues to motivate many to insist on getting a bigger bang for their buck. According to a new Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, about one in three Americans plan to spend less this holiday season, down from 42 percent in 2008. The full results of this latest poll are available at www.ConsumerReports.org.
“Consumers are optimistic, but they don’t necessarily believe that happy days are here again. Credit is tight, unemployment remains high, the value of their homes has dropped and many Americans are facing the prospect of higher taxes of all levels,” said Tod Marks, Consumer Reports senior editor and resident shopping expert. “So while it’s a bit surprising that some plan to spend somewhat more than last year, the fact is they’re insisting on value, value, value.”
In a previous poll conducted by Consumer Reports at the conclusion of the last holiday shopping season, shoppers estimated they spent on average $811 – 16 percent higher than what they had planned. The majority of those recently surveyed plan to use cash as often and about four in ten will cut back on credit and debit card spending. That’s probably a good thing. In 2009, Americans who paid with credit cards charged more than they anticipated– $180 more on average.
Another problem with using credit cards is that consumers tend to carry debt for a long time. The latest Consumer ReportsHoliday Shopping Poll revealed some 13.6 million Americans remain saddled with last years’ leftover holiday debt.
Additional findings from Consumer Reports first Holiday Shopping Poll of 2010 include:
‘Tis Better to Give Than Receive
Nearly a third (31%) of adults reported that they plan to cutback on gifts for themselves. Overall, they expect to spend more on charitable giving and gifts for others.

Tackling Holiday Shopping
Most people haven’t begun shopping. As of mid-October, only about a quarter (28%) of Americans had started. Twenty percent do not expect to finish until after December 23rd.

Budgets on the Decline
Nearly half (47%) of Americans are planning to set a budget for their holiday purchases. That’s down 12 percentage points from the height of the recession in 2008.
Making a budget and sticking to it are two different things. Of the 36 percent of consumers who made a budget last year, 39 percent reported that they exceeded it; five percent said they went way over budget.

Happy Holidays Are Here Again
Holiday optimism continues to grow. Forty percent of adults expect their holiday season to be happier than last year. Households with kids under 12 (53%) and younger adults aged 18 – 34 (58%) are particularly optimistic about the upcoming holiday season.

Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll Methodology
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted two telephone surveys of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,023 interviews were completed among adults aged 18+ between January 7 – 10, 2010 for the post 2009 holiday data. Another 1,010 interviews were completed among adults aged 18+ between October 14 – 18, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3% points at a 95% confidence level.

SOTHEBY’S sale of Magnificent Jewels to be held in Geneva on Tuesday, 16 November, 2010 is set to be a major highlight of the international auction calendar this autumn. The sale will be spearheaded by one of the rarest and most beautiful gemstones ever offered at auction – a 24.78 carat Fancy Intense Pink Diamond that was last seen on the market some 60 years ago. The much-anticipated sale will further comprise a rich selection of some 500 lots, including an impressive array of white diamonds and exceptional coloured gemstones in addition to jewels with important
provenance, period gems and creations signed by the world’s greatest jewellers. The quality and variety of the jewels presented for sale will, without doubt, appeal to collectors and jewellery enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.

Commenting on the forthcoming sale, David Bennett, Chairman, Europe and the Middle East, Sotheby’s International Jewellery Department, declared: “This sale is one of the most exciting of my 35-year career at Sotheby’s, on all fronts, and continues the impressive offering that we brought to auction in Geneva in May of this year. It is a great honour to present this 24.78 carat Fancy Intense Pink Diamond to an international audience as it is one of the most desirable diamonds ever to come to auction and its beauty has haunted me since the very first time I set eyes on it some years ago”.

Signet Jewelers Ltd, the world’s largest specialty retail jeweler, today announced that it intends to prepay the $229.1 million aggregate principal amount of private placement notes (the “Notes”) outstanding under its 2013 to 2018 US Private Placement Note Term Series Agreement dated as of March 30, 2006, as amended (the “Note Agreement”). In addition, Signet and its lenders have amended their $300 million unsecured multi-currency five year revolving credit facility agreement dated as of June 26, 2008, as amended (the “Facility Agreement”).

Spectrem Group announced today that its Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index (SMICISM) rose 6 points in October to zero, its highest level in nearly 3 years.
This advance keeps the index in neutral territory and brings it to the highest level since December 2007, when it stood at 8.
Meanwhile, the Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index (SAICISM), which measures the investment confidence and outlook of households with $500,000 or more in investable assets, rose 3 points in October to –13, a mildly bearish reading.
“Millionaires’ confidence in the investment environment reached its highest level in almost three years in October. Confidence among the broader affluent population also advanced. While the stock market’s October gains clearly contributed to this positive trend, underlying economic fundamentals remain a top concern for America’s wealthiest investors,” said George H. Walper, Jr., President of Spectrem Group.
In response to an open-ended question about the one factor most affecting their investment plans, affluent investors in October cited: stock market conditions (21%); the economic environment (20%); retirement (10%); household cash flow (10%); the political climate (8%); and household income (2%). Those citing the economy declined from 22% in July 2010, the last time this question was asked, while those citing stock market conditions remained unchanged.
Millionaires were slightly more focused on stock market conditions (22%) and on the economic environment (21%) than the affluent.

The Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index (SAICI SM) is based on 250 monthly interviews with the financial decision-makers in households with $500,000 or more in investable assets. The data have a margin of error of plus or minus 6.2 percentage points. The Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index (SMICI SM) is based on a subset of the overall survey group.