The best way that i have found to follow commercial aspects of the pearl industry is on the Pearl Professors Blog: http://www.pearl-professor.com/2010/01/on-upswing.html
There is also the Pearl-Guide Forum which (I think) is administered by Pearl Paradise/Jeremy Shepherd in the US. However, this site should come with a warning to (particularly female) readers that too much reading may result in pearl addiction and subsequent direct investments in such: http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/index.php
Regarding APB, I would suggest you compare with ATP before making a decision to invest in pearling.
APB Price at posting:
2.8¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Not Held