COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16751, 5 January 1915, Page 9

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON MARKETS.

By Telegraph—Press Aisociation—Copyright . LONDON, Januaiy 3. WHEAT.

Wheat is firm, but quiet. Tho total quantities of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom amount to 1,855,000 quarters, and for the Continent to 1,880,000 quarters. Atlantic shipments are 630,000 quarters, and from the Pacific 2000 quarters. Tho total afloat from Europe is 880,000 quarters, including 10,000 quarters from India and 5000 V ial *t ers from Argentina. MISCELLANEOUS. Jute, December-January shipment, £lB ss. Hemp is quiot. February-April shipment, £2-1 10s. Rubber—Para 2s 10Jd, Plantation ]s 11-3 d, smoked 2s 23d. Copra, December-January shipment, £23 2s 6d. Cotton, May-June shipment, 4.3Jsd. * SILVER. Silver, Is 10 9-l(sd per ounce. TIN. Tin, stocks 9815; tons, on spot 3009 tons, afloat 4345 tons, deliveries 2525 tons-. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. [Pbr Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 4. Tho Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following! cable message from the High Commissioner, dated London, January 2. Tho quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on the spot: Frozen Meat.—Mutton—There has been more .inclination to purchase mutton during the past week, but the market is declining on account of increasing supplies. Canterbury, sid; North Island, 5 7-16 d. Lamb—There has been a better tone in the market this week, tho market being firm, with an upward tendency for the better qualities. Canterbury twos. 6f|d; other, than Canterbury, 6|d. Beef—The market is quiet. New Zealand, hindquarters Citl. forequarters s|d. Chilled is in moderate supply; hindquarters 6&d, forequartcrs Sid. Butter.—The market is firm, with a good demand. Danish is quiet; 150 sto 1545. New Zealand is in good demand; 136 sto 138 s; unsalted 138 sto 140 s. Australian. 134 s to 1365, unsalted 136 s to 138 s. Siberian is firm; 128 sto 1325. Argentine, 131 s to 1365. Cheese.—The market is firm. Canadian is rather quiet; 78s to 795. New Zealand, white and coloured, is fairly steady; 75s to 765, exceptionally good to 775. , . „ Hemp.—The Manila mnrket is firm, but the demand is only moderate. The Philippine market is rather unsettled on account of the new grading law. The output from Manila for tho week was 19,000 bales. Tho New Zealand market is quiet but steady. Spot quotations nominally are:—Good fair grade £26 10s, fair £24 10s. January-March shipI ment, fair current Manila and New I Zealand £26 to £26 10s, good fair £24 10s, high points £23 10s, fair £22 16s. Sisal quotations are misleading, but I have heard of an offer of fair average quality, f .o.b. New York, as low as £lO 10s. At present it is impossible to secure freight to Europe. Wool.—Tho market for mennoes is rather steadier, and unchanged for cross-bred^?. AUSTRALIA'S POSITION. THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. By Telegraph—Prosa Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, January 4. Mr Winchcombe, president of tho Chamber of Commerce, reviewing tlio financial position of Australia at tho end of tho year, said that after the first threatened panio at the outbreak of war the calm, strong attitude , of the banks, backed by ample cash reserves, acted as a tonic to the commercial community and engendered a feeling of confidence, which, with Government action, established a 6trong position. The commercial outlook for 1915 was hopeful, although it would bo a year of diminished valuo of exports, and consequently dear money ana restricted enterprise.