The Wool Markets.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 180, 3 February 1896, Page 2

The Wool Markets.

(Per Press Association.) London, February 1. Tbe Antwerp sales were held on the sth and 6th. The catalogue contained a total of 6,860 bales, including 100 Australian. Compared with the prices obtaiued in December, all the merinos sold at the present series were fully 5 per cent dearer, and crossbreds at par, while inferior sorts were five per cent lower. The American buyers took 21,000 bales. At the Bradford sale business was restricted. Crossbreds were id. below the London opening rates. In merinos there were a few transactions at £d to ld higher. Melbourne, February 1. In the wool market there is great animation, and for all descriptions competition is brisk, good greasy and scoured merino being especially in demand. The market is extremely firm, and the improving tendency reported from London is fully reflected in local prices. Sydney, February 1. At tbe first fortnightly wool sale there was no abatement in briskness of demand, and, following the course of the London market, higher prices were paid. For all good lots there was spirited competition. Most of tbe offering, however, were of inferior quality, and for these classes there was no improvement. During the week 18,500 bales were offered by auction, and including private sales 20,600 were sold.

The following is contained in a cable message received by the New* Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) from their London office, under date 30th January : — Wool— The sales closed firmly this day. Since close of last sales, greasy, and scoured merino, medium and inferior; greasy merino lambs, super, medium and inferior ; and greasy grossbred lambs are to Id per lb higher. Washed merino, medium and inferior, fine greasy crossbred, and slipe merino are per lb higher. Medium greasy washed and scoured crossbred ; and coarse greasy, washed, and scoured crossbred are par to Ad per lb lower. Other descriptions unchanged. The total quantity sold during the past sales is 183,000 bales, of which 84,000 bales have been taken for the Continent, and 21,000 bales for America. It is estimated that 22,000 bales have been held oyer for future disposal.