Metals Economics Group’s (MEG) recent Strategic Report points to a 73% decline in total acquisitions spending on diamonds – $210.5 million in 2008-09 compared with $760.2 million in 2007-08. The mining information and analysis company’s report showed a total of 19.7 Mct in resources changed hands in 2008-09, a 91% decrease from 208.4 Mct in 2007-08. Diamond transactions of at least $1 million decreased in number by 46% in the year between June 2008 and May 2009-14 transactions in 2008-09 compared with 26 in 2007-08. (more…)