MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 192, 16 August 1927, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

TRADE FAIRLY WELL MAINTAINED. PEARL BARLEY REDUCED. EASIER MARKET ON PRUNES. ■;.. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, August 16. In the wholesale grocery section, trade is being fairly well maintained, the consensus of opinion being that the returns compare very favourably with those of laet year. The Island steamer arrived last week and brought the usual batch of orders which required quick dispatch, and had the effect of making some of the warehouses busy for a few days. Business this week has opened up quietly, but is expected to show more briskness towards the end of the week as the bookings for the new month commence to come in. Kctail trade is rather quiet, with the exception of those houses in the drapery section who are actively featuring special lines, and which are obtaining a ready response from the public. General. The delay in the departure of the Sussex from Singapore until this week has enabled wholesalers to purchase pines (first quality) on a slightly better basis and so even up their buying as their purchases made in the earlier part of the season were at a very much higher rate. Tapiocas had commenced to show eigns of easier prices, but as soon as it was found that direct shipment was delayed quotations firmed immediately and seem likely to remain so until agents commence booking for November-December shipment. Pepper still continues to be very dear and only limited quantities are obtainable from the Straits Settlements. Recent landings of canary seed have coated out much lower than formerly, so that quotations made to the trade are now very favourable. Shippers advise that the season is now well advanced and that there ie every indication of c.i.f. quotations being listed at higher rates. In Norwegian sardines—King Oscar and crossed fish are exceedingly scarce on spot and further shipments are being anxiously awaited. New season's haricots and Madagascar beans, are now in ample supply and selling well owing to favourable costs. Lentils brought forward by the last direct steamer were not sufficient for the demand, and consequently the market, ha* been rather short. Further supplies were immediately cabled for and shipped via Sydney, and it is now expected that consignments will arrive by the next steamer.

Prunes. Prices for new season's prunes have opened up at 3/ per cwt below last year's quotations and at present list ratee represent particularly attractive buying, with the result that considerable business hae already been transacted. Raisins. The market for Thompson's seedless raisins unbleached remains round about values already recorded in these columns, although the latest information to hand inclines to more firmness generally. In confirmation of this, one of the. responsible packers has temporarily withdrawn quotations for eoda Lkaehed from this market. Currants.. 'Recent cables irom London advise an. ' increase .in the currant market, both Amalia and Patras grades being advanced 1/3 Percwt. " = Walnuts. An advance of £10 per ton has recently ' taken place on new season's Sorrento wal- * nuts, as against the present indent rates prevailing for French and Syrian. Sorrento for prompt shipment are unprocurable. , ' • ' - Pimento. Pimento hae been quoted at high market prices for a considerable period and cables received last week advised a further increase on the present quotation of £8 per ton. Stocks are very scarce and are-likely to remain so. until about November, when the new season's supplies should arrive. Cloves. The latest cables received from London quote Zanzibar cloves at a reduction of %d per lb for prompt shipment. Hemp Seed. Japanese hemp seed is now being offered at a slight increase on the previous c.ii.e. price offered from Kobe. The last cable received advised an increase of 10/ per . ton, and also indicated that this was the commencement of a rising market owing to the general scarcity of supplies. Pepper. The market Cor all .grades of Singapore pepper remains exceedingly firm and late, cables received last week advised an increase in the prices quoted earlier in the week of %d per lb on black and %d per lb on white. A certain amount of buying had to be done to catch the August direct steamer, but as new crop pepper begins to get more plentiful on the Singapore market, prices will probably ease a bit, when further business should result. The statistical position of-stocks is such that any weakness, in.' the- market* is expected to be of very short duration, and the majority of .buyers will operate immediately there ie any indication of lower indent-rates. . . •

: Salmon. . : Small eupplies of new season's Sockeye salmon arrived by the Aorangi the day before yesterday, and as stocks of this pack (Laurelwreath), halves, are bare, the shipment will go into immediate consumption This consignment is rather early, packers' juet completing in 'time to' catt'h the steamer before she sailed. ~.-...., Dates. ;. -_ May advices received from Mesopotamia dated May 21, gives some interesting details dealing with the forthcoming pack of new season's date*. The crop is admitted to be large and; of good quality, but factors to be reckoned with, which may quickly' affect prices, both before and- daring the packing season, are excessive heat, which will cause the dates to ripen too .quickly and fall off, etrong north winde and sandstorm* during the "shamel" season, which will cover the fruit with muddy sand and render a large proportion 1 useless for packing. There is an early- intensive demand from America /or new season's dates, and arrangements have already been made to pack 200,000 boxes for that market.. This will make for keen competition among the native packers, as owing to the; fact that the grain crop thk year is* good, most of the available labour'will be employed by the grain shippers, and consequently labour for' date packing is likely to short, which will have the effect of increasing the packing charges to 2/3 per box- as against 1/6 per box last, season. Cables received last week advised the market as firm, without change, and that direct shipment quotations were not likely to alter. Ceylon Tea. The quantity of tea placed under offer at last week's sale amounted to IJBO.OOOIb. Quality was unchanged, from the 'offerings of the previous weekiHthe-r«ieult r pf-the sale showiiif aitrimproyed general demand, with all narkete buying:. Commonest were MijtWtly (Mjrier, all other grade* advanced

Sultanas. Cables received last week advised a reduction of 1/ per cwt on Smyrna sultanas. Pearl Barley. Last week the southern millers advised the trade that owing to an easier market they were able to reduce the price of pearl bailey £2 per ton. Linseed Oil. English quotations for liheeed oil, both raw and boiled, are slightly easier, advices received last week showing a reduction of Id per gallon on the previous rates for spread, September-December shipment. Tapiocas. Cables received last week advised a further slight advance in the market for tapioca and sago in both the Penang and Singapore grades, and it is expected that this firmness will be in evidence for the next few weeks at least. Mail advices state *that the previous firmness in this market was occasioned by increased buying by European merchants, and the Indians also buying moderate quantities at the same time helped to keep up the market. Present indications point to_ a further rise, but as the statistical position is considered none too sound, shippers are expecting eventually to eee a reaction in prices. Jute. The latest cables received iu connection with the jute market advise an advance on corn sacks for the November-Decem-ber direct steamer of 9d per dozen on the 46-in and 1/3 per dozen on the 28-in. Mail advices, dated end of June, state that brisk business has already been done in woolpacks for all deliveries up to December this year. A good west coast demand for B twills and Liverpools has hardened values for these fabrics, while 6xß sugars have been sold in fair quantities for August shipment. Speculators have again purchased cornsacks for JulySeptember, 1928, and the mills have sold Cuban sugars foi\ April-June delivery. The hessian market has been unusually steady, which has induced speculators to make forward purchases from the mills, and a fair business is reported right up to September of next year. Hardware. Wholesalers have experienced fair trading during the past week. •Business has shown a slight improvement this week, and merchants have every hope that this will improve. Oversea shipments now landing , comprise the following:— Skelton garden tools, enamel ware, aluminiumware, Johnston's plates, binding wire, hoes and rakes, floor mops, batteries and torches, electric light globes, wire mats, alarm clocks, glassware, lamp chimneye. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory butter, booked, 1/5% per lb and 1/4% per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory butter, booked, 1/4% per lb, and 1/4 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/3 per lb • Cheese.—First grade factory, medium eize, mild, 9%d to 9%d per lb. Loaf, ll%d per lb. • ;, , Bacon.—Hains, 1/1. to 1/3 per lb; rolled hams, 1/3 to 1/5 per ib; Wed'tame, 1/3 to 1/5% per lb. Bacon: Sides, 10% dto 1/1 per lb; rolled sides, 1/0% to 1/3 per lb: middles, 1/1 to 1/4 per lb; 'Widen, 8d to lid per lb; rolled shoulders, lOd to 1/ per lb. Lard: Bulk, 10d to lid per lb; pats, lid to 1/ per lb. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; Wβ, £18 15/ per ton; 8&;,* 1 * 5/ ijer ton; 25's, £20 per ton; 12%'s, £20 17/6 per ton; 6%'e, £21 7/6 per ton Southern: 2001b sacks; £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's. £19 per ton; M\*M W pa- taalvOk't, £20 5/ per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/6 per ton* all less 2% per cent discount Sharps and Bran.-liocal sharps, £8 5/ per ton; bran, £5 15/ per ton. Linseed.—Whole, 21/ per cwt; ground; 12/ per .bushel; whole white, 12/ per bushel, whole black, 15/ per U Twines;— Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, P^ameal.—l3/6 per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nots.-Moose, 14/ per 1001b. Bluestone.—32/6 per cwt. Linessd Meal—Moose, W per 1001b .