Following the dip in commodity prices in the present economic slowdown, Anglo American plc, has decided to cut its 2009 capital expense budget to $4.5 billion, which is a cut of over 50 percent. The company owns a 45 percent stake in De Beers Group. %% In a press statement the mining company revealed that it had to reconsider its short term investment plans by emphasising investments in those projects which are likely to perform better in the short term. Although it has not clarified as to how the reduction of expenses would affect its diamond development projects. %% The De Beers Group has mentioned a cut in production for the short term, while also narrowing down its investments in exploration and development projects in the past few months.