De Beers reduced rough diamond prices of the higher-end goods at its November sightholder sales, but noted that further discounts were necessary to improve profits in the manufacturing sector. Rough prices were reduced by 5% to 7% and sightholders had the “buy-back” option for items weighing 2 or more carats, enabling them to keep better-value rough and avoid taking on unwanted inventory. According to De Beers, the decision to reduce rough prices and allowing buy-backs was to ease pressure – uncertain policed demand and slim downstream margins which impacted manufacturers’ demand for rough diamonds.