COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1920, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON MARKETS. By Telegraph.—Fress Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 21, 10.5 p.m. London, Jon 20. Copper, £ll6 7s ed And £llß 17s fld; electrolytic ingots, £122; bars, £123; best selcoted, £122. Lead, £47 5s and £47 10s. Spelter, £SB and £OO. Tin, £384 2s (Id and £386 2s 6d. Sliver, 79 Mid per ounce. GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. Christchurch, Jan. 20. Wheat prices are a prolific subject of dismission amongst thoso Interested in tho grain business. The general opinion Is that In cases where the ylold avorages well over 20 bushels to the aero there will be an increase in tho area grown, and this should compensate for the area producing less than the average of 27 bushels dropping out. On the whole, though growers are entitled, In the general opinion,, to a shade more than the price awarded, it is most Improbable that It will discourage production next year. There is a good deal of activity in Algerian oats, and several lines of the new season's crop have been sold at country stations at up to 5s Cd per bushel for the North Island. This makes the price to the consumer fairly stiff, and it Is unlikely that business will be maintained at that figure for long. There is very little business yet in Cartons. Cocksfoot has been briskly inquired for, and the prosptcts of a disappointing yield on the Peninsula will maintain the demand. However, the .area of cocksfoot being sown In the North Island is Increasing every your, nnd this will tend to diminish the demand for the Canterbury crop.

ENGLISH MARKETS. The Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has received the following cablegram, dated January 17, from tlio High Commissioner for New Zealand, London; — "Butter.—From January 1!) wholesale price Increased £l3 10s Bd, and from January 26 retail price -will advance to 2s Sd per lb. "Cheese.—Present maximum fixed price, wholesale Is retail is Sd. Beginning of February English butter and cheese will be in free control. Hemp.—Manila market firm at higher rates and good demand continues. •}' grade sold up to £64 10s. October-December shipment, £65 January-March shipment and FebruaryApril shipment. Output last year 1,101,000 bales, as roraparert with 1,410,000 in 1918. Stock in Manila end of December 881,000 bales compared with 301,000. New Zeaiand market quiet but firm. Pair, on spot, sold £52. Present quotations for on spot are: Highpoints £56, fair £.12 10s, January-March shipment £53 and £4B. "Mexican Sisal.—Understood' that Commission Reguladora hare gone out of business. Stocks have been hypothecated to bank, who cannot obtain suitable offers, and therefore are holding for better prices. Buyers are Jioldlns off on account of uncertainty regarding disposal as stock on hand consists of 250,000 balM and market Is \v»uk and lrregu-