COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2938, 25 November 1916, Page 12

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES.. Yesterday's quotations, for investment shares wcro as follow:— Buyers. Sellers. . £ s. d.' £ «. d. Equitablo Building 9 5 0 9 15 0 Loan and Mercantile (pref.) — 78 0 0 N.H. and B. Plate :... ■ 2 10 Well. Invest. T. and A. ... • — 0 10 6 Well. Gas (£10) . - 15 0 0 Well. Gas (pref.) — * 019 3 fNational' Insurance ...,215 6 Gear Meat (£1) 4 10 0 — Well. Meat .Export (£2 lis. 6d.) ■ — 3 2 6 Well. Meat Export (£1 155.) .- : — 2 1. 0 Union Steam (ord.) — 2 4 9 rrnion St<-am '(pref.) 116 — Huddart-Parltcr (ord.) ... 1 3 9 1 4. 9 Well. Woollen (ord.) ... — 6 0 0 Well. Woollen (pref.) 3 15 0 3 17 6 Waipa Ooal — 0 18 9 Wostport>Stockton (ord.) 0 4 2 0 6 6 Leyland-O'Brien 13 0 — Taianaki Oil Wells 0 0 6 — tEx div. Oustonis duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2429 lis. THE PRICE OP TIN. ' During the last two months the price of tin in London has advanced £15 to £16 per ton. This may bo attributed to tho steady shrinkage in the shipments from the Straits Settlements, in conjunction with tho heavy consumption in America. Writing in this connection, the "Metal Bulletin" of October 3 remarks that reduced estimates of tho Straits sliipmohts have had the effect of encouraging sellers in their reticent' attitude, while tho Eastern markets displayed undiminished firmness at comparatively liish prices. Consumers who havo been holding back orders shorted moro inclination to buy, Which assisted prices further in their upward course. Advices regarding American consumption roniain excellent, and United Sytatos interests seem more disposed to antioipato requirements over tho year-end by making purohases In tho East, a policy doubtless induced by tho delays experienced in. securing prompt supplies from England. THE CURRANT CJiOl'. In their annual report on currants, Messrs. Burlumi and Company state that the now crop is not expected to be moro than 100,000 tons, which is tho smallest quantity since 1900. Tho yield last year was 125,800 tons, and in 1914 it was 145,000 tons. Tho fruit is deficient in size, but has been housed in very sound condition and its colour is good. Tho poor oulput is duo to the restricted labour availnblo on tho plantations, and to tho attacks of several scourges, tho customary remedies against which had not come to hand in time through difficulties created by tha war. "Tho growers aro asking very high pricos. partly becauso of tho smallnoss of 'Jinii firoß and mainl® ifsipao pt iho^

enormous cost of growing it. Their expectations to obtain those prices are help* e<l by tho unexpected demand from Franco and from the domestic win© industries, -'which since Jlay last lulto been raying very § high prices for even the commonest quality of currants." WHOLESALE PRODUCE PKJCES. Messrs. Laery and Co., Ltd., Allen Street, report wholesale prices • as fol-lows:—-Fowls' wheat, prime, 6s. 9d. per bushelj fowls' barley,.3s. lCd. per bushel; Australian Cape barley, 4s. 6d. per bushel; Cape. barley, 3s. l&d. per bushel; N.Z. barley, seconds, 3s. Bd. per bushel; partridge peas, 6s. 6d. per bushel; maize feed, ss. 9d. per bushel; chaff, oatsheaf, £6 ss. per ton, sacks in; hay, clover, £4 10s. per ton;'hay, meadow, £4 15s. per ton; ilour, in sacks, £15 10s. per ton; oatmeal, 7's £21, 25's £19 .per ton; bran, £4 15s. per ton; pollard, £7 10s. per ton. Bacon (all best factory), sides, 10* d. per lb.; Tolls, Is. OJd. per lb.; hams, Is. per lb.; shoulders, vgd. per lb.;, cheese (factory), medium- IOJd. per lb., loaf lid. per lb.; linseed nuts, 12s. 6d. per cwt.; linseeel ground cake, 12s. fid. per cwt.; linseed oil meal, 100's lis. 6d. per cwt.; onions, Victorian brown Spanish, £13 pe'i* ton; potatoes, wliite-skinned table, £13 103. per ton; pigmeal, £6 per ton. All poultry in very good demand. Kens, ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per pair; cockerels, 6s. 6d. to Bs. per pair; ducks' (Pekin and Aylesbury), 9s. to 10s. per pair; ducks (Indian Runners), 7s. po Bs. per pair; turkeys (gobblers). Is. Id.. to Is. 2d. per lb.: turkeys (hens), lid. to Is. per ,Ib. Butter (prime bulk). Is. 3d. per lb.; eggs (fresh), is. 4d. to Is. ,sd. per dozen. DALGETY AND CO., LTD. The New Zealand, superintendent of Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, has received a cable message frohi Lon-, don to the effect that the annual general meeting of tbe company was held in London on November 23, when a dividend of 4s. a'share, making with interim.dividend 8 per c-ent. for twelve months ended Juno 30, also a bonus of 2s, per share was declared. The dividend and bonus will bo payable to shareholders on the colonial register on and after November 25. Provision to tho extent of £40,000 was made for depreciation of premises, £50,000 was transferred to Teserve fund, £10.000 to benevolent fund, and £197,544 carried forward. SOUTHERN MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association. . : Chrlstchurch, November 24. The wheat market has continued to firm, and although there is little business passing and it is difficult to frame quotations, there is no doubt that prices are higher. Any wheat, in growers' hands (and a few /have two seasons' grain still unsold) is being held firmly, and few samples are being offered. Tuscan is now worth ss. 6d. to ss. 7d.; Hunter's, ss. Bd. to ss. 9d. at country stations; and there is no pearl offering. There is no change in other grains. Tho potato market,is now practically over for the season. Prices nominally are £8 15s. to £9 at country Bt-ations. VICTORIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. (By Telegraph-Press Melbourne, November 24. Bran. £4 ss. Pollard, £5 ss. Barley, Cape, 2s. Bd. to 2s. lOd. Oats, milling, Algerians, 2s. 2id. to 3d.: feed, Is. lid, to 2s. Potatoes, £5 to '£7. Onions, £5 10s. to £7. - BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. 1 Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Roc. November 2-i, 9.10 p.m.) 1 London, November 23. The Bank of England return issued for the week ended .Wednesday, November 22, is as under:— , Issue Dkpabtmicn't. Note Issue £73.021.000 Gov. debt ... £11,015,000 Other securities- ... 7,431,000 Gold Gi,57-2,00^ £73.021,000 £73,021,000 ' Banking Department. Proprietors' Gov.sccuricapitat £11.553.000 ties X 43.155.000 I Public de- Olborsecuri- . | posits ... 55,550,000 ' ties... ... 93,634,000 I Other dc--1 posits.. ...105,418.000 Notes 36,101.000 Best, 7-day 1 and other I bills ... 3,-mOOO Coin 1.937.000 i" £178,700,000 £178.7ti0,000 The leading items of the Bank of England return afford the following comparison:— . This week Last week Lastyoar •.£ : £ £ Bullion ... ... 54.572,000 54.529.000 62,294:000 Reserve ... 37.938.000 y8.031.000 39.805.01 X) Note Circulation 36,!>20.000 36.894,000 33,30a.000 Public Deposits 55.580.000 63.738,000 62,149.000 Othor Deposits 103.418.000 114.9-25.000 86,649.000 Proportion of reserves to liabilities 05.56 -22.55 27.40 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are the latest , quotations for Consols and Colonial Government Securities in comparison with those ruling last week:— '

MONEY MARKET. The Bank of .England discount rate was on jTanuary 2, 1914, reduced from 5 to 41 per cent., on January 22 it was reduced to 4 per cent., and on January 23 3 per cent On July 30 the rate waß raised; to 4 per cent., and on July 31 it was raised to 8 per cent., and oh August 1 it was further advanced to 10 per cent. On August 6 tho rate was reduced to 6 per oent., on August 7 it. was further Teduced to 6 per ccnt on July 13, 1916. it was raised to 6 per cent. OPEN MARKET, BATES. The open market discount rate lor three months' bills is 5} per cent., as compared with 5S per cent, last week, and 5J per cent, last year. Short loans are quoted at 5 per ceut., as against 5 per cent, last weelc and 41 per cent, last year. COLONIAL AND'OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat is firm with littlo offering. Flour is firm. The Board of Trade regulations have checked, forward buying. There' is a' good demand for Australian patents on spot at 595. to 595. 6d. Peas are very firm. New Zealand maples and partridges are nominally 85s. Beans are dcaTer. There arc no New Zealand beans offering. Oat 3 aro firm. Old Bahia Blanca, ex quay, 465. METAL MARKETS. Copper.—On spot, £144 10s. per ton; three months. £139 10s.; electrolytic. £164. Tin.—On spot. £191 12s. 6d. per ton; three months, £193 12s. 6d. • Lead.—Soft foreign, on spot, £30 10s, per toil; forward delivery, £29 10s. ■Spelter.—On spot,'. £58 per ton; forward delivery, £55.

Variation Stock ' compared k Price. witl) " ! last week. 2i?o Imperial Consols ~ r 3i „ \V ar Loau .-SJ 10s lower 4j „ Wax Loan 10s [owor 4 „ N.S.W.1933 Jan-July £ ™ ",10s lower 3i „ H.S.W.1930-50Mr.-Sp £ " " Ss higher 3j „ N.S.W. Early'Ourr. „ 10s higher 3 „N.S.W.1925 Apl.-Oot « 2/6 lovrov 4 „ Vic. 1920 Jan.-July S? l l S lOshishs3! „ Vic. 1921-6 Jan.-July il,! ,, Unchanged 3i» Vic.,1920-1949 m S n pnohanfiod 3 „ Yic. 1929-49 Jan.-Jly ™ \o S .Jtoctagod 3* „S.A. 1916 Jan.-July §3 n 0 Unchanged 3 ■ ,,'S.A. 1916 J&u.-July mob & °-T 4 ,.QTd 1915-24 Jan.-Jly 07 17 U J* ," aber 31 „ QTdl922-47 Jan.-Jly a B If. , ! ™ er 3 „QTd 1922-47 Jan.-Jlj ca 2 6 ? er 4 „ N.Z. 1929 JIay-A'ov. 84 5 0 si wi)i er ' 3} „ K.Z. 1912-40 Jan.-Jly 73 15 0 ' 3 „K.Z.1920April-Oot. 61 5 0 31 ,,W.A. 1515-35 My-Nv 76 0 0 fafebor ti " m 1915-35 MyOJov 70 0 0 {jnc ham£,l 3i„ Tas. 1920 Jan-July 72 15 0 o2n a 3 Tas 1920-40 Jan.-Jul}- 66 0 0 -flower