Antwerp Trading Floors to Reopen May 11

RAPAPORT... Antwerp's four diamond-trading halls will reopen next week as Belgium gradually relaxes its restrictions on movement and social interaction.The government permitted diamond companies to restart operations on Monday, though many employees will work from home. The country had been on lockdown since mid-March as the nation attempted to limit the spread of the coronavirus, with Antwerp's trading halls closing on March 16."The Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses decided to reopen all trading floors as of May 11," a spokesperson for the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) told Rapaport News Monday. "The advice from the Belgian government is still to work from home as much as possible, but from today on, people can come back to work if necessary."The country has recorded 7,765 deaths from the pandemic and just under 50,000 cases, according to data from the World Health Organization.The AWDC and the federation have advised people to observe social-distancing guidelines and remain at home if they have cold- or flu-like symptoms.Antwerp has four diamond exchanges: the Antwerp Diamond Bourse, the Antwerpsche Diamantkring (for rough trading), the Diamond Club of Antwerp and the Vrije Diamanthandel.Image: The Antwerp Diamond Bourse trading floor. (Antwerp World Diamond Centre)