MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 86, 12 April 1927, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

BUSIER WEEK ANTICIPATED. LOWER MARKET OX RESIN. iTTPvTHER ADVANCE OX WALXUT HALVES. Auckland Star Office, Tuesday, April 12, 1927. Wholesale business has shown more life this week, the fact that all warehouses and shops will be closed for the Easter holidays causing retailers to order more extensively, in anticipation of holiday business. Dispatch and packing departments are sure to be busier towards the end of the week, as there will be difficulty in getting all deliveries completed before the warehouses finally close. Retailers are also bound to experience a rush of business, and they will probably have to work overtime owing to the shorter week. General. The Calcutta direct steamer completed her loading for Xew Zealand ports at the beginning of last week, and then proceeded to Rangoon, Penanjr. and Singapore for ior the final portions of her cargo. She is expected to leave the last-named port early this week, and witb the exception of a stop at Townsville en route, is proceeding direct to Auckland and should arrive here the first week in May. In the meantime, stocks of Eastern commodities are getting low, so that her arrival will be rather anxiously awaited. As far as local stocks ot general lines are concerned, merchants seem fairly well supplied for the present. Good dispatch is being maintained of all oversea business from both English and American manufacturing houses, the arrivals just about keeping pace with stock demands. One of the popular Southern packings of breakfast food was in short supply up to about a week ago, owing to the manufacturers who had altered the design of one of their cartons, being unable to procure supplies of the new packing in time to keep pace with the amount of business offering. American Resin. The last advice received in connection with the resin market showed that prices had advanced and were expected to advance further. Since then, quotations were advanced slightly, but cable advices received last week advised a decline in the market, and prices are now listed for both prompt and forward shipment show a reduction on "G" grade of £2 10', and <- X" grade of £1 17,-6 per ton. Mace. Shippers of Amboyna mace advise that London reports a dull market, with more interest being shown in the West Indian grade. Singapore prices are slightly higher owing to outside inquiries, chiefly from America, although cable quotations ito hand last week advised a slight weakness in prices for next shipment. Almond Nuts. Prices for soft shell almonds are generally firmer, latest cables received advising an increase of 2/6 per cwt in indent rates. Tapioca. Mail reports on the tapioca and sago market advise that the recent increases in first cose were caused by Indian buyers being in the market for supplies, although apparently these purchases were for only email parcels, as cables received last week listed both grades at a reduction on the quotations of the previous week. Practically no business was transacted: however, as the majority of buyers had operated during the previous month, when tapiocas were about on the same level. The direct steamer is scheduled to leave Penang this week, so any further business will have to come forward by transhipment steamer at.extra cost. Shippers advise that the consumption of sago and tapioca as disclosed by the shipments that have been made during November, December, and January, only averaged 1377 tons, which is very much below the normal quantity usually shipped from Penang. Mixed Spice. Recent advices received from English shippers of ground mixed spice in one ounce .packets show a reduction of Id per lb in this packing. Nutmegs. Shippers state that the demand from nil quarters lias been rather poor, rvnd although occasional buying, much of which has Ijeen merely speculative, has caused temporary advances, the market has. on the whole, been weak, with more sellers than buyers. The last fortnight has seen a change in the market position, there have been more inquiries and the business that has been transacted has been at increasing prices. Last week's rates increased M>d and the previous week Vtd per lb. Bulk Dates. The f.o.b. market for both Khedrawi and Siar bulk dates has shown a further increase of 6d per cwt, which was advised in cables received last week. This market has been rising gradually, but steadily, during the past month, and agents are anticipating cabled advice of a further advance this week. Desiccated Coconut. The latest quotations received from Colombo about a fortnight ago on the desiccated coconut market show that a reduction of 9d per cwt lias taken place in list prices. Walnut Halves. Indent prices on Romanian perfect walnut halves are still very high, and the latest information received from shippers by cable is that prices have advanced a further £5 per ton. Prices on this line are now so high, and the risk of importing bo great, owing to the meat being liable to be infected with grub in transit, that buying has been restricted to very small parcels. Seedless Raisins. I Further cables received in connection with the market for Thompson's seedless | raisins unbleached, show that packers have advanced their quotations 6d per cwt. Haricot Beans. The indent rate for new season's handpicked Hancot beans has firmed again, the last cables received a week ago showing an advance of £1 per ton on previous quotations As the direct steamer £ th the first of tins season's purchases has now left Rangoon, it will be necessarv for any of the late buyers to add transhipping freight, from Sydney to the above increase in iirst cost. Cinnamon Chips. The market for cinnamon chips is \erv firm owing to an active demand latest cables received advising an increase of 10/ I per ton in the latest offerings for prompt' shipment. This quotation is for Maradoni I quality, sifted and cleaned. | Olive Oil. Further advices have been received that the shortage of olive oil, as the result of the poor crops this season, has been responsible for further heavy advances in all packings, but more particularly i n the highest grades. These last advances have been influenced by the fact that the sardine factories who use large quantities of the best grade oil in their canning operations, have been buying very largely. Peanuts. | The last cables to hand advised that the I market for Chinese peanuts in shell -was I unusually firm, and that Tientsin shippers had advanced their c.ii.e. prices a further 10/ per ton, and also advised that the market was a rising one. Mattress Wire. Herein cables received from the Canadian Steel Company by their age:it« advise a reduction of two dollars per ton for tinned mattress wire on direct shipments commencing in May next. Shippers have the hot le t , to ' this reduction, owing to Montrekl sI ? 1 P m | Ilt « being made from Montreal direct and not via Halifax,

Ceylon Tea,

At the weekly sale held ;it Colombo orthe Jth inst., 1,330,0001b was placed inn! offer. This quantity was unusually lav , : , - , . being 350,0001b in excess of the previous week's offerings. Commonest and common kinds were in excess of requirements, and all grades -were irregular and slightly easier. There was a fair general demand, and the quality, although showing a falling off, was still very useful. The result of the sale showed the following reductions:—Commons, 3 /4 d: price broken orange Pekoes and plain 8.0.P.'5, %d; first classics, unaltered; finest sorts, Id per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6 5-32nds. Hardware. Hardware merchants report a fair volume of business passing, with trade inquiries being received mainly for general utility lines. Collections are slow. Further shipments of lawnmowcrs have lately arrived and are selling well. New consignments of English teasets and crockery are just landing, and are opening up exceptionally well. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—Superfine quality creamery butter, booked 1/4*4 per lb prompt cash; Anchor, Sunbeam and Opotiki, 1/3% p< , ! , 11); first grade factory, per lb booked. and 1/3 per lb for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked 1/2% per lb, and I''2 per lb for prompt cash; farmers' separator, 1/1 per lb. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size. mild. BVid to 9%d per lb; loaf, lid per lb. Bacon.—Hams. 1/1 to l/3fcper lb; rolled hams. 1/3 to 1/5 per lb; boned hams, 1/3 to 1/5% per lb; bacon sides, 10' id to 1/1 per lb; rolled sides, I/0 , 2 to 1/3 per lb; . middles, 1/1 to 1/4 per lb; shoulders, Sd to lid per lb; rolled shoulders. 10d to 1/ per lb; lard, bulk, 10d to lid per lb; pats, lid to 1/ per lb. l Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £17 10/ pt ton; 100's. £18 5/ per ton; 50's, £18 15/ per ton; 25's, £10 10/ per ton: li'aV, £20 7/6 per ton 6V*'s, £20 17, G per ton. Southern flour, sacks, £17 10/ per ton; 100's. £18 5/ per ton; 50's, £18 10/ per ton; 25's. £10 per ton; 12V2 - s, £19 15/ per ton; 6Vi's, £20 7/6 per ton, less per cent discount. Sharps and Bran.—Local sharps. £9 10/ per ton; bran, £7 10/ per ton. Linseed.—Whole, 21/6 per 1001b; ground. 22'6 per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed. 10/6 per bushel; whole white, 10/6 per bushel; whole black, 14/ per bushel. Twines.—Seaming. 3/9 per lb; binder, Sd per Hi. Peameal.—l4/ per 1001b. Linseed Meal.—Moose, 15'6 per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—Moose, 14/6 per 1001b. Bluest one.—32/6 per cwt.