COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1044, 6 February 1911, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. There were no transactions recorded on Saturday, and tho buying and selling quotations were as under:— ' Buyers. Sellers.

WELLINGTON WOOL SALES. The fourth salo for the current seasonwill begin to-morrow morning. whon about 12,754 bales will be catalogued, the offerings of the respective brokers bcintr as undo*: — - ••• - -• • —- • Ba4cs. ~' r l)Mgely * and* 4830 N.Z. Loan and Mercantile 24C6 Murray, Roberts and Co 2131 ..- -.Abraham and;-,' Williams.,• 1965 • Levin and Co. 1222 United Fanners 2CQ 12,754 the' wool to be-offered to-morrow, is'mostly from the hack country, and is. therefore, moro or less heavy in condition. Prices are expected to rulo on a parity with the January sale?, but in view of tho weakness of crossbrcds at the London sales,, thin expectation ' may not ho Quito realised. Local buyers are likely to operate freely,. and there is . bono that the I catalogues will be well clcarcd. 1 LLOYD'S BANK. The high rotes for .money, especially in the short loan market, and the extraordinary demands made on Great Britain in capital applications during the past vear have enabled most of the British banks to accumulate large profits. Accordine to a cable message we publish this morning, Llovd's Bank has made a record profit of a million sterling, notwithstanding that the bank's investments in Consols havo had to be written down by X22O.DCD. Lloyd's Bank was- established in 1655. and has since acquired by amalgamation or purchase, a large number of businesses in various parts of the country, and now has 595 different ofliccs. .The,, balance-sheet for 1909 showed a-net profit of £770,278 before

deductinK income-tax, as against £843,C38 in 1908, and X 1,030,208 in 1907. The dividend paid last year was at tho rate of 16} per cent, ou the shares which are £8 raid ui>. Tho assets amount to £87,CCO.CCO. the bulk of which is more or less liquid. The liabilities cxceed £SO,CCO,CCO. CUSTOMS The Customs revenue collccted at the port of ireilhjffton on Saturday totalled £845 15s. ICd., tho ainount for tho week being £12,958 ss. lOd. Compared with the corresponding periods of last year, the receipts for the past five weeks show as under:— 1911 1910.

The beer duty for tho week totalled £454 13s. 6d„ aa corapa-red with £284 4n. 9d. iu tho corresponding week of last year. BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. By TelecrapU—Press Association—Copjrisrfc*. London, February 3. The Bank of England return issued for the wpek ended Wednesday, February 1, is as' under:— ISSUE DEPARTMENT • • Kote Issue — £53,93i,000 Gov. debt ... £11,015,90? OUiov securities ..." 7,434,000 ' . • Goli -35.453.000 £53.002.000 *£53.£02.100 Banking DEP.uvnrr.NT. Proprietors' Govt, sccuri- , capital £14,553,000 tics... "... £14,005,000 Public do- Other securiposits ... 10,053,000 ties 28.603,000 Other deposits ... 41.567.000 KotQ3 26,231,C00 Rest, 7-day , and other Coin — M 1,015,000 bills,.. ... .V3.55G.C00 _____ . £70.9.9,003 £70,920,CC0 Tho lending., items of tho Bank of Englaud return '• afford. the following comparison:— 'Thisweok. Lasfcweek. Last year £ £ ' ' Bullion ... 35.453,003 : 35,025,000 .'35,676,000 Reserve ... >}?- 27,216,000 27,177,C00 '26,956,000 Kote circulation -a7.701.C0327,251,000 •Public Doposlts ' 10,9r>3,UM ' 11.248.C00 ' 10,211,000 Other Deposits 41.837.WJ 41.0J4.U0J 43,M4,UU) Proportion of . reserve to . ' 1 / liabilities 51.40 51.63 . 50.46 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are tho latest quotation* for Government, securities, wtth a com- ! parison of those ruling last week:— 1

, BANK RATES OP DISCOUNT. The Bank of England rate was reduced on Juno 9 from 4 to 3 per cent: on September 29 it was advanced to 4 per rent.;\ and on October 20 to 5 per cent. On December 1 it was lowered ■to 4J per cent., and on January 27 to 4 per cent. The Bank of Franco rato was reduced from 3J to., 3 per, rent, on January Vs 1908, -and renins' at itio-latter ficure.

The. Imncriai Bank of Germany on January 21,19C9, lowered its.rate. from. 5 to. 4J per cent., , and on February 10 to 4 rer ceiH. But on September 25 it ,wa'fl raised to 5 per cent., at which rato it' remains.:

: MAIIICET RATES OF DISCOUNT. Tlie following aro the market rates • for best three months' bills:—

COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. • : Wheat—Tho markets continuo fluil. River rPlatc, Indian and Australian sellers are all pressing sales. Tho only inquiry .is . for " near " wheat—mado by buyers who are continuing tlicir hand-to-mouth. policy. Australian carsoes havo r-oltl at. 355. per 345. 6d. and 356.; 3d. Holders are asking 355. 3d. for, Janu-'j ary-Februaxy ir shipments. ex . sailors, and . 355. fid.-ox BteamCre. For January-Feb-ruavy-March parcels 345. 3d. has been paid. There is but a small demand for 6pot Australian lines on a basis of 355. 9d. to 355. 3d. .'.For best Now Zealand lines 335. to 345. is "quoted, and for inferior. 325. to 325. 6d. For new crop parcels February shipment, o2s. 6d. is oooted.Flour.—The market continues quiet. and there - is' but small business doing. Australian patent brands ex storo -brine 2os. 6d., aud for February-March shipments 24?,. to" 245. 3d. Oats.—Tho demand is slack. New Zealand oats are unchanged. River Plate, for. February-March shipment, sold at 13s. per quarter. Buttor.—Tho market is.steady and price 3 ' aro generally unchanged. Choicest. Australian salted -occasionally brines 1045.; and choicest New Zealand unsalted 108s. to 110s. This week's colonial arrivals amount to 120,000 boxes, and nest week's i will amount to 130.000 Poxes. Cheese.—The cheese market remains firm. New "Zealand x coloured makes brineing £9s. to 61s. per qwt. Australian white realises 565. t-o 57s.,.a'nd coloured 53g. Sugar .—German beot, £8 per cent. net. titro is quoted at 9s. Id. per cwt., and first marks lis. Id. per cwt.: an advance of Id. per cwt. on the weak. Bradford Top?.—The market is auiet. Prices' arc about on a. parity with those ruling, last week, and arc as follow:—64's, 26d.'; s;nncr 60's, 251 d.: common CO's, ?.4?d.; 56's, 21id.; 50*s. I81d.; <6's, 142 d.; 40's. 13Jd. ' THE METAL MARKETS. Copper.—Three months' 3s. 9d. higher. at .•£56 per ton: electrolytic, 175.. 6d. hielier, at £56 lCs. . Tin.—The market is flat, owine to heavy realisations. On spot, 40s. lower, at £193 per ton; three months, 455. lower, at £192 15s.- - Lead.—Soft foreign/Is. 3d. lower, at £12 17s. 6d. per ton. Pig-iron.—Middlesbro' No. 3. Id. hieher, at 495. sd. per ton. Silver.—Bar silver is quoted at 24id. per ounco standard. . ' LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press fi - London, February 3. At the wool sales there was eood competition, ,and prices generally were maintained. 4 . The'top pried 'realised for the "Waikohu clip was IPd. per lb., and tho average • 9d.; Elderslie, 20Jd. to 20id.' Messrs. Levin and Co.. Ltd., have received cable advise from their London aeents of the followine. averages for . fleece wool realised at the sales now current:—Lansdowne, Marlborough, 12Jd.; Richmond Brook, : Marlborough. liijd.; 811/ T. Nelson, 9M.; Rcwanui. Masterton, 10Jd.: Hula. Ohariu, 9fld.; Otahuao, Masterton. 93d.; B diamond B, Featherston, 9 15-16 d.: FSOK, Masterton,. 9 13-16 d.; Anchor/Awatoitoi, Masterton, 9 11-16 d.; AGP/Jlapua, Masterton, 9Jd.; FG/N, Nelson, 9 3-10 d. HIDE AND SKIN SALES. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. report:—At our usual monthly ealo held on February 3 we otfered a largo catalogue to a full attendance of buyers, who competed keenly lor all lots. The following is a list of prices realised:—Wool.—The offerings under this heading consisted principally of inferior and log-stained llocce and lambs, only a few lots of eood bright wool heiue offered. , Lambs wool, best lots, Gd. to Bid.-, inferior,. 6Jd.- to 6jd.; seedy and rough, from sd. to 6c1.: crossbred, 7id. to 7^d.; cottcd and inferior, 6d. to 6*d.; dead. 6Jd. to 61d.: pieces, sd. to 53d.; bellies, 43d. to 5d.: locks and picr.es, 3*d. to 4d.; black, s£d. to Gd.; inferior . crutchiues, 4*d. Sheepskins.—All sound pelted-lines, dry skins, and butcher's green and salted sold well, hut inferior and damaged lots were slow of sale. Full wool crossbred, 6d. to 6Jd.; lambs. sid. to 6Jd.; dead. 44d. to sid.; damaged crossbred, 41(1. to 5d.: pelts, 32d. to 4Jd.: dead hogeets. 4d.: butchers' .salted pelts. Is. lid., 2<?., 2s. 2d.: 2s. 3d.: 2s. sd. to 2s. fid.: lamb pelts, from Is. to Is. Id. Hides.—These sold on a par with last sale's rates. Ox. medium to heavy. 63d. to 6-? d. Cows, best lines from fad. to 6£tl.; good. 6d.; rough. sid to Siid.; cut and slippy from 4d. to 43d.; cut os, to 53d.: yearlings. 54d. to 7£d.j slippy. 3jd. to 5Jd.; bulls, from £d. to 5?, d; drv hides, to sd. Calf Skins.—From 7?,d'. to 8f:d; cut. 6W.; blippy, from 2sd. to 4W. Sundries.—Tallow in tins, from 235. to 265.' per cwt.: tallow, in drums, 265.; rough; fat. t.o 16s. per cwt.; horse, from Is. to Is. 4id. The date of our next sale h March 3.

. FROZEN MEAT. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Limited, have received the followine cablegram from their London house, under date February Z:—Frozen ileal.— Mutton: Market altehtly --weaker. Beef: Market steady. Lamb: Stocks in London are in esccss of trade requirements. FEILDING MAKKET REPOHT. Messrs. A. 11. Atkinson and Co.. Ltd.. at Friday's sale yarded a medium lot of pigs, pricea showing little variation on late values. Poultry was forward iu large numbers, every pen being filled. Quality was indifferent, mostly aged half-crown and cull birds little fit for table use. We sold a lanrc ouantity of fruit, uroduce, etc., at quotations. Tomatoes were not forward, and • peaches scarce. Potatoes show better value now early due lots arc (juitted. Wo quote:—Weanera and slips, 2s. t 6d., 3s. 9(1., 45., ss. 6d. to 6s. 9d.: stores, 9s.', 9s. 9d. to 14s. 6d.: light porkers. 17s. to 20s. Poultry: Hens, Is- 6d., Is. 9d.. 25.. 2s. 6d. to 35.; cockcrels.. 2a., 2s. 3d.. 2s. 6d. to 35.; half-grown. If. 2d. to 25.: roosters, 2g. to 4s. 6d.; clucks. 2s. 6d., 3s. to 3s. 6d.; duckling, Ir. 6d. to 25.; turkey, hens, 75., Bs. to lis. 6d.; hen and chicks. 355. 6d. to 4s. 6d.;'geese, 3s. to 4s. per pair. Produce: Plums, per ease. Is. 3d., Is. 6d.. 2s. to 2s. Gd.; apples, auarter case, 2s. 6d.: potatoes, ; sr>., ss. fid. cwt.: cabbage, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. 1 sack; onions, lid. lb.; bacon. 7d.: hams, '7*d.

£ B. a. £ s. d Bank of* N.Z 10 14 0 - National Bank 5 16 6 — Weil. Trust and Loan .... 7 12 0 7 14 0 * Wellington Deposit — 0 8 0 ' Wellington- Gas 2 6 — Well. Gas (£6 -15s.) 13 17 6 - Standard 7 3 — ! Gear Meat'(.£1) 7...;...'...?... "3 2 6 — i Moat Exnort (52s. td.) 3 0 1) — I Well. Woollen (ord.) 3 17 0 3 19 0 ! Well. Woollen., (pref.)....... 2.16 0 - Taupiri Coal 110 ■— Leyland-O'Brien — 17 3 Miramar, Ltd "** 0 2 6 N.Z. Paper Milb — J J 9 ■Tor.jnaki- Petroleum- ; • 0 13 o 'Tanngaroutu'Tofara 2' 5 6 ■ Ward and Go. 4 18 6 5 1 0

January. 7 s!l« 10^899 January 14 ; 24,024 17.699 January 21 9,439 7/65 January 28 25.246 20.336 February 4 12,958 11,356 £79,810 £67,455

, Variations _ \ Scompaed • Prica. with ' ___ lastwoofr* £ B. d. 2$%Im?:crial Consols V9 U« 0 5s.6d.higher 4 „N.S.\V.l933Jan.-July 10.) 0 0 Unchanged 3i„N.S.W.1913 tar.-Sop. OS 0 C 2js. lovrar 3 „K.S.W.iy35Apl.-Octi.j -37 1J 0 Unchanged" 4 „ Vic. 192i) Jnn.-July 19J 0- U 3iVic. 1021-6 Jati.-July 10 0 UnchantjeJ 3 „ Yic.liri0-i9Jan«.July, 84 10 0 Uiiclinufc'ed, 3i'i, S,A. 1016 Jan.-July Oo 10 0 - Unchanged "i „S;A. W16 Jan.-Juiy bill) 0 Unchansud 4 • ,;Q'l'dll)15-'2I.Ian.-Jiily 103 0 0 Unchanged 3i „ Q'l'drJii-jOJau.-July -6 50 0 Uncliaufied 3 ,, Q'l'cl I'-j-.M'! Jan.-July 3i 10 0 Unchanged •i „N'.Z. 1029 May-Nov. 104 11 6 7f?.6d. higher „K.Z. 1910 Jan.-July % O 0 Uncbo-miod -3 ,,N.Z. l'J4.*> April-Ocfc. S5 10 0 Unebangod 3i,, W.A.lftJIM0jIay.Nov 07 0 0 Unchanged 3 . „\V.A,1015-a3Mdy.Nov W 10 0 Unchimpod 3i.„ Tas. 1040Jan.-July 07 10 0 Unchanged 3 ,,'HjLs.liftMO Jaiy-July 86 ' 0 O Unchanged

London* Paris. Berlin -rate. • rate. .rate. ; •• -_-Dcr.cent._ per ceht._pcr cent. '" This week 27-16 23 38 Last week .33 28. 3s Last year 29-16 22 . 3& Short loans arc quoted at 51 i>or ccnt., n's against S3 per ccut. last week, and 21 per cent, a year ago.