International News
Botswana negotiating zero US tariff on diamonds
Botswana’s president Duma Boko says he’s close to negotiating an end to the 15 per cent tariff imposed on his country’s polished diamond exports to the US.He also says Botswana must diversify beyond diamonds to exploit its copper, nickel, and cobalt resources – and must ensure the value they generate remains in the country. Botswana’s diamond sale were halved in 2024, reflecting a global slump in demand.
Botswana is the world’s biggest diamond producer by value, but the vast majority of its output is exported to India (with 50 per cent tariffs), Belgium (zero tariff for diamonds), and the UAE (10 per cent tariff). Only around 10 per cent of Botswana’s diamonds will benefit from a scrapping of the tariff
He said talks aimed at achieving a zero tariff on diamonds mined, cut and polished in Botswana and exported directly to the US were at “an advanced stage.The US has already reduced tariffs on Botswana’s goods from the 37 per cent figure introduced on 1 August (10 per cent baseline tariff plus 27 per cent reciprocal).

Duma Boko also spoke about the need to diversify and retain wealth within Botswana: We’ve been overly dependent on diamonds. We’ve taken a very heavy knock on that front. We are also looking to diversify within the mining sector, looking at critical minerals which we have plenty of, we have copper, nickel, we have cobalt,and we will be looking to leverage on our endowment in these regards to now begin industrialization.
A lot of the wealth of the continent ends up in other jurisdictions. The biggest downside has been to allow the product, the minerals, mined on the African soil to be carted away in the raw. The approach now for Botswana and for the rest of the African continent has to be that of these minerals must take place in country, must take place within the continent, so that value is extracted, so that each country and Africa as a whole becomes a hub for value addition.”
International News
Precious Metals Bounce Back As Iran Ceasefire Hopes Rise, But Fed Rate Fears Loom: AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
Gold Remains Under Short-term Pressure from Expectations of Fed Tightening and a Strong Dollar. However, Investor Positioning in Gold Looks Relatively Light After Months of ETF Outflows.
Price Movement – Gold has bounced back from its key support levels near $3960, and Silver has recovered from $55, after an Iranian official reportedly received a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire. The continuing US-Iran standoff has kept investors worried about energy-driven inflation and the possibility of further rate hikes. Markets are now pricing in an 83% chance of a US rate hike in December, up sharply from 73% just a week earlier, based on the CME FedWatch tool.
Geopolitical Tensions – Despite the Houthis announcing fresh military action, both Tehran and Washington appear keen to restart talks and stop the escalating attacks that have nearly destroyed a fragile interim agreement reached last month. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that mediators had proposed a 10-day ceasefire, aimed at rescuing the interim deal and eventually leading to a lasting peace agreement.
Macro-Economic Signals – Gold remains under short-term pressure from expectations of Fed tightening and a strong dollar. However, investor positioning in gold looks relatively light after months of ETF outflows, meaning further price drops may be limited. Strong physical demand, especially from China, along with continued central bank buying, is providing solid support to the gold market.
Technical Triggers
If Gold fails to hold above $4,000 (~Rs.1,41,000), it could slide further to $3,900 (~Rs.1,38,000). But if it manages to stay above $4,200, a fresh rally could take it toward $4,500 (~Rs.1,55,000).
For Silver, a strong move above $63 (~Rs.2,35,000) could push prices toward $70–71 (~Rs.2,51,000–2,55,000). On the other hand, a fall below $55 (~Rs.2,14,000) may drag it down to $50 (~Rs.2,00,000).
Support and Resistance
| International Gold Support Level International Gold Resistance Level Domestic Gold Support Level Domestic Gold Resistance Level | : $3900/oz : $4160/oz : Rs 137,000/10 gm : Rs 147,000/10 gm |
| International Silver Support Level International Silver Resistance Level Domestic Silver Support Level Domestic Silver Resistance Level | : $55/oz : $63/oz : Rs 214,000/kg : Rs 235,000/kg |
-
National News11 hours agoMCX Gold, Silver Futures For August Delivery Rise On Renewed Geopolitical Tensions
-
International News8 hours agoPrecious Metals Bounce Back As Iran Ceasefire Hopes Rise, But Fed Rate Fears Loom: AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
-
National News9 hours agoCosmos Diamonds Makes History With World’s First LGD  Jewellery  Launched Into Space
-
International News12 hours agoLondon Diamond Bourse Announces Launch Of Its New Coloured Gemstone Course

