COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2689, 8 February 1916, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES. In the investment market yesterday o, sale of Westport Coal shares at 28s. 3d. was reported. The quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s. d. National Bank 5 0 0 — Bank N.Z., (£fi 13s. 4d.) ... 16 7 6 — fUnion Bank 49 5 0 — N.Z. Shipping (ord.) 18 0 0 — Union Steam (ord.) — 16 9 Well. Woollen (ord.) 5 2 0 — Well. Woollen (pref.) 3 8 0 - Manning end Co A 11 6 — Ward and Co 5 10 0 — +Ex div. WELLINGTON WOOL SALES. The Wellington wool sales will be held In the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Monday next, at 9 a.m. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. By Toloirrapb—Press Association—Copyrisht (Kec. February 7, 10.55 p.m.) Sydney, February 7. Though the embargo on the shipment to America and Italy somewhat restricted the sale, the range of wool priccß was fully equal to the highest of the season, Bradford and Japan buyine freely. Greasycrossbred touched 213 d., and scoured 283 d. LONDON WOOL SALES. London, February 6. The wool eales closcd at top rates. There was sold for the Home market 96,0(10 bales, for the Continent 15,000, and for the l United States. 2000. There was held over SWO baits. Compared with ,the December sales, best scoured merinos advanced 2d., medium faulty 3d. to 3d., choicest greasy about 5 per ceut., and medium' and common 7, 1 , to 19 per cent. Best crossbreds advanced by Id., common by 10 per cent., slipes (in keenest demand) by 2d. to 3d., crossbred lambs 2d., merinos lu per cent. The most remarkable feature was the absence of excitement during the boom which was almost dangerous. Prices navu been paid with the fullest confidence. This is probably due to consumers being full of orders and enjoying good margins or prollt It is hecoininc increasingly evident that the consumption of wool here is proceeding at an unparalleled rate.' The Bank of New Zealand has Teceived the following cable advice from its London office, dated February s:—"The wool sales closed ltrih and prospects are favourable. Current prices for crossbrcds In averago condition arc Coarse, 19d. per lb.; medium, 2013.; fine, 2Hd.; halfbrede, 21<1. For merinos, in averago condition: interior, 131.ri per lb. j superior Zld. Messrs. Murray, Roberts, o.nd Co., Ltd., have received a cablegram from London, under ante February o, as" follows"Sales closed very firm, at the liighest point of the series; 50C0 bales 'were held over." Messrs. Dalgcty and 00., Ltd., advise having received tile following cablegram from their London ollico as follows:- Wool sales: The salw nave closed very firm; competition was animated, and priccs, ,as compared with the closing of December salet', are:—For greasy, scoured, and merinos, 10 per cent, dearer, except ire-sty and greasy, which «to 5 per cent, dearer; good lambs, 10 per cent, dearer; while 6hort and faulty are 5 per cent., greasy crossbred (fine) 5 to 7J per cent., medium crossbred 10 per cent., lambs 10 per cent., scoured slipe (fine) 7J per cent, dearer. Tho wool has been <lisnoKod of as follows: —For Homo trade, 96,000 bales were purchased, for the Continent 15,000, and for' America 2000 bales, 600(1 bales have been held over for the next scries; 2500 bale"! were not offered. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Ltd., advise having received the following cablegram from their London agents, under dato February 5:-"Wool sales closed strong. Greasies 7J- per cent., slipes 10' to 15 per cent, above December rates." ' ' TALLOW. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., . Ltd., advise having received tho following cable-ram from their London office as followS:—London telegraphs under date February 2 that tho market continues idlo at auction: 242 casks have been offered, of which 57 have been Eold;. prices nominally unchanged. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The ■ Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has received the fol-' lowing cablegram from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, dated London, February 5. (A'ote: Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market , priced on spot):— Meat. —TheTe is & better demand for New Zealand mutton and latnb on account of the decrease In amount of home-killed, but there is no change in prices. . Mutton.—Canterbury 75d. per lb. for light weight; medium, 7£d.;. other brands than Canterbury not quoted; ewes, 7d. Lamb—Canterbury. 7gd. per lb. for all weights; second grade, 73d.; other brands than Canterbury, 7Zd. for best quality; ordinary quality, 73d, Beef.—Only New Zealand cow heef available, selling at:—Hinds, 6id. per lb.; fores, 5Jd.; chilled hinds, 73d.; fores, 6Jd. Butter.—The market is quiet,, but firm. Danish, quiet, jer cwt., 1565. to 1585.; New Zealand, spot market is firm owing to short supply. 150s. to 1525.; unsalted, 160s'. to 1685.; Australian, market firm, owing to reduced, supplies, 1445. to 1485.; Siberian, there is hettcr demand for best quality, 1245. to 1325.; Argentino, steady, 140s. to 1445. Cheese. The market is steady and holders are firm. Canadian, very firm, white and coloured, per cwt.. 996. to 100s.; New Zealand, white and coloured, 985.; United States, a fair demand, 965. to 985.; English Cheddar, 106s. to 108s.; Cheshire, 114s to 1203. On February 1 the estimated Canadian and United States chceso stocks. London, Liverpool, and Bristol, 124,000 boxes against 81,CC0 boxes at the Eame time last year. New Zealand and Australian stocks 21.000 crates against 22,700 last year. Hemp.—The market is quiet, but firm, ?f„ v, '„ Zca V u ." l, cood-fair, per ton, on spot, IDs-: fair. £45 10s.; Manila, new graded, fair, £55. Fchruary to June shipment: New Zealand good-fair, £47; fair, £45 Manila, new graded, fair, £54. Tho out. put' from Manila for the week ended Feb. ruary 5 was 22,000 bales. Wheat—The market is quiet, but firm. February to March shipment: Australian, steamers, 685.; sailer, 663.: Argentine, 685.Canadian. 665.; arrived, 60s. Oats—The market is steady, but demand only modorate. Argentine, on snot 31s. 6d.: Febninry to March shipment, 325. 6d. Hops—The market is firm, with more inquiry. English, 1255. to 1455.; Californian. 90s. to 112s. Wool.—Wool sales closed; strong market, booming on account cJf a small supply and manufacturers busy on Government contracts. Only a small quantity of New Zealand new clip has been offered. Future prospects arc good. Estimated values: Fine crossbrcds, ail grades. Is. Bd. to Is. lid.: medium crossbreds. all' grades, Is. 71 to ls.-9!d.i coarse crossbreds, all trrades, Is. 6d. to Is. BJd.; superior mcrinos.'ls. 7d. to Is. lOd.; medium marinos. Is. sd. to Is. 7t1.. inferior merinos, Is. 2d. to Is. 4d. Estimated values at tho corresponding period last ycnr:-Fine crossbrcds, >ill grades, Is. 3d. to Is. 5d.; medium crossbrcds. all grades, Is. 2d. to Is. Mdi; coorso crossbrcds, all grades, Is. Id. to Is. 3d.; superior merinos, li, to Is. 2d.; medium merinos. lOd. to Is.; inferior merinos Btl. to 10d. WHEAT AND FLOUR. By Hslßstraph—l'ress Af.omtiri'iCnnvridil London, February 7. The wheat market is firm and dear, owing to Continental inquiries. Australian, due March, has been sold at 70s. The wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom totals 1,765.000 quarters; for tile Continent, 3,040,CC0: Atlantic shipments, 956.0C0; Pacific. 2/j(10. The total shipments to Europe during the week amounted to 1,295,000 quarters, including L 74,C00 from the Argentina..