MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1927, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

WHOLESALE BUSINESS IMPROVES. CEYLON TEA MARKET FIRM. RESIN PRICES SHOW REDUCTION. "Aucklasd Star" Office, Tuesday, June 28, 1027. Wholesalers are again reporting improved conditions, -with a substantial increase in the volume of business transacted. This movement commenced last week, with the booking of business :or the new month. Country orders were sent forward from the 22nd, local and suburban, from the 23rd. Local distributions were commenced earlier owing to the 25th falling on a Saturday, which, being only a half day, does not give merchants sufficient time to complete all their deliveries, they therefore sent these out two days earlier. The retail trade in general report fairly quiet conditions, collections being rather slow and buying in most cases restricted to the absolute requirements of the household in foodstuffs. General. Shipments of new season's asparagus have just arrived, and in comparison with previous landings, show a reduction of approximately 10 per cent. Peanut kernels have been in short market for a considerable time and the announcement that transhipments had arrived by the last Sydney steamer proved very welcome to the trade. Lentils and Lima beans are still in short cmopass. Shipments of the first-named landed last month, but apparently were not sufficient for the requirements of the trade, with the result of a short market till further supplies arrive by transhipping steamer. Limas are expected early nest month, their slow arrival being caused by a late crop. Peas, both cartons and tinned, are in good demand. Prices are attractive, this year's quotations being substantially lower than those of previons seasons. A new line has just been offered to the trade under the name of peanut cheese—its chief merit is that it is not oil. like other offerings of the same nature, and it is slightly cheaper to the consumer. Drapery. The retail drapery trade is, generally speaking, rather quiet. Some of the shops have commenced their winter sales, which are a little earlier than usual this year, while other houses are holding off for about another month or six weeks, which will tend to make their sales rather later than in previous years. Since our last report one of the Queen Street shops made a display of the new style frock as worn recently in Piccadilly, and it is safe to say this garment caused quite a sensation," consisting, as it did, of small trousers and coat. A fair demand is shown for everything in imitation reptile skins, and this trimming will undoubtedly be very fashionable as the season advances. The demand for coloured dress flannels is very poor this year in comparison to last, and it is thought that only very small parcels of these goods will be bought next year. Evening silks nave not been in such good demand as last season, although chiffon and taffetas have been offered in very pretty shot colours, at very reasonable prices. The wet weather has kept up the demand for umbrellas and raincoats, and now these two articles are treated quite as a fashion adjunct, instead of being merely useful as they were a couple of years ago. It is repor.ed that the sales so far this season are not proving so lucrative to the storey as ii the past years, which is attributed to the general shortage of ready money. Peanut Kernels. Agents advise that they are in receipt of cables offering to book Java peanut kernels for July shipment at a reduction of 1/6 per cwt on previous quotations. American Resin. Recent cvbles advise all grades of American resin as showing weaker tendencies, and the latest information now to hand advises a reduction on 'G of 17/ per ton, and on "N" of £1 per ton for prompt shipment. Tapiocas. This commodity continues to fluctuate fiom week to week, the latest cables received last week showing a firming tendency and advising an advance of 5/ per ton on seed tapioca (sago), with quotations for medium pearl remaining unchanged. Mail advices state that the reason for the recent firmness in this market was caused by the operations of buyers from the United Kingdom entering into the market. The majority of this business was done in the superior or Singapore grades, but the feeling has doubtless been that the demand would . extend to the Penang grades in view of the low prices that had been offered on this line. Crystallised Cherries. Recent cables received advise a reduction of %d per lb has taken place in crystallised cherries for prompt shipment. Preserved Ginger. The late* quotation ruling on Chinese preserved ginger represents a decline of %d per lb on previous rates, and as the prices now listed represent the lowest recorded for a number of years, fairly representative orders have been sent up for prompt shipment from Hongkong. Smyrna Sultanas. Agents for Smyrna sultanas advise the receipt of cable advice, notifying a reduction of 2/ per cwt on Smyrna 6ultanas in all grades. Peppers. This market is still advancing. Last ■week's quotations show still further advances on the offers of the previous week. Sitgapore black %d, Singapore white %d, Sarawak white %d and Muntok white %d per lb. Shippers advise that for some time past stocks at primary points have been very low, so that it only needed a slightly improved demand to send prices up with a rush. The demand in the first place emanated from Europe and suppliers are now refusing to sell at any price for fear of being unable to execute contracts in time, owing to an almost entire absence of arrivals of new crop pepper, and to their stocks being practically exhausted by recent sales. Rice Meal. In sympathy with the easier market for Australian dressed rice, Australian millers have cabled agents, advising them to reduce rice meal 5/ per ton for prompt shipment. Madagascar Butter Beans. This market has been completely bare of stocks for a considerable period, and in consequence some merchants were compelled to purchase small supplies from Melbourne, in order to keep the market supplied till the arrival of the new season's shipments. The last English mails advised the shipment of the first consignments by the Port Dunedin, which is due here about July 2, and as merchants have . already sold a good portion of this »consignment forward, supplies are eagerly awaited. Prices have weakened considerably since opening quotations were first named, as a result of the poor sales made " in Great" Britain, but it will be some months before shipments will arrive here at the lower quotations. Clothes Pegs. 3'he lftfccst indent rates recently advised by cable £or Canadian clothes pegs show a reduction of 2d per box for forward :#fife£ry, "'.."" m ma nr,, ---.--

Jute Goods. The Calcutta market for both cornsack; and woolpacks has advanced during th« last few days, with the result that ther< has been considerable activity owing t< the good forward buying that has taker place. The latest increase in indent rates is an advance of approximately 3%d pei dozen on cornsacks and 5%d per pack or woolpacks for July-August direct steamer Smyrna Figs. Cables received by agents last week ad vised au increase of 1/ per cwt on sever and 2S!b bags. This advance is for new season's, for shipment in September. Pimento. English shipping houses have cabled buyers, advising an increase of 5/ pei cwt in whole Pimento. Most of the mer chants have already operated for forwarc shipment, as they will require supplies to be here ready for the demand ii December-January next. Ceylon Tea. At the usual weekly sale held ir Colombo on the 21st inst., two and a hal million pounds was placed under offer Quality showed a slight improvement, am the result of the sale showed a stronj general demand, with all markets buying including Russia. All grades were quotec at advances on the previous week'i figures. Commons advanced Id per lb Price broken orange pekoes V/*d per lb first classic broken pekoes %d per lb, anc finest sorts %d per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6 5-32. Californian Raisins. A reduction of 1/3 per cwt has beei advised by one of the largest of the Cali fornian packers on oil bleached sultanas The same house lias also cabled, advising a reduction of 1,6 per cwt on choice seeded raisins. Nutmegs and Mace. Shippers advise that the present position of stocks of nutmegs and mace is a fairly large one and that further supplies are arriving freely. Dealers have en deavoured to bolster up prices, but ii there is no improvement in the present demand, it is almost certain that price* must decline further. Sound shrivelled nutmegs have been in good demand, and consequently have not declined to the same extent as other varieties, which have been practically neglected. Last week's cabled quotations showed a decline of %d on whole nutmegs, 110/, %d sound shrivelled, and l Ad on No. 2 Amboyna mace. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—Superfine quality creamery butter, booked, 1/6% per lb; prompt cash Anchor, Sunbeam and Opotiki, 1/5% per lb. First grade factory, 1/5% per lb booked, and 1/5 per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, l/ 4% per lb ,and 1/4 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/3 per lb. Cheese.—First Grade Factory: Medium size, mild, B%d to 9%d per lb; loaf, ll%d per lb. Bacon.—Hams, 1/1 to 1/3 per lb; rolled hams, 1/3 to 1/5 per lb; boned hams, 1/3 to 1/5% per lb. Bacon sides, 10% d to 1A Per lb; rolled sides, 1/0% to 1/3 per lb; middles, 1/1 to 1/4 per lb; shoulders, 8d to lid per lb; rolled shoulders, lOd to 1/ per lb. Lard: Bulk, lOd to lid per lb; pate, lid to 1/ per lb. Flour—Local: 2001b, £17 10/ per ton; loo's, £18 5/ per ton; 50's, £18 15/ per ton; 25's, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 7/6 per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/ C per ton. Southern flour: £17 10/ per ton; 100's, £18 5/ per ton; 50's, £18 10/ per ton; 25'8, £19 per ton; 12%'s, £19 15/ per ton; 6%'s, £20 7/6 per ton, all less 2% per tent discount. Sharps and Bran.—Local sharps, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £7 10/ per ton. Linseed.—Whole, 21/ per cwt; ground, 22/ per 1001b. Mah.—Crushed, 10/6 per bushel; whole white, 10/6 per bushel; whole black, 14/ per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, 8d per lb. Peameal.—l3/6 per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—Moose, 14/ pei 1001b. Bluestone.—32/6 per cwt. Linseed Meal.—Moose, 15/ per 1001b.