MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

TRADE INCREASING. EASIER MARKET ON TAPIOCA. NEW SEASONS GOODS ARRIVING. "Auckland Star"' Office, Tuesday, November 22. Grocery merchants report that business has been very good, showing a steady and gratifying increase towards the latter end of the week. Prospects for this week are also exceedingly bright, owing to the heavy volume of business being sent into the various merchants for execution on. the 22nd and 2-3 th, as the new month. General. A fairly acute shortage on spot stocks of Norwegian sardines, particularly sixteenths, is advised and the prices ruling on any available supplies are very firm. Spanish muscatels have arrived, and a perusal of invoices shows that some shippers are unable to fulfil all orders on all varieties, which will force iperchants to make pro rata deliveries, or offer other sizes in lieu of the packings not to hand. Owing to slight increases in first cost, Heinz peanut butter .medium and large, has been increased 3d per dozen. Shipments of aluminium cleaner, both Brillo and Abrazo, have been advanced approximately 6d per dozen owing to the recent increases in duty. One of the most popular lines of Euglish cut smoking tobacco is now being offered on the local market in small size one-ounce tins at an increase in wholesale cost of 8d per lb. It is expected to retail at 1/1 per tin. The second delivery of new season's Californian figs arrived early last week and are selling well. Supplies of new season's prunes have been anxiously awaited for some time, and the delivery of documents in the early part of last week against consignments on the West Ivan was very welcome to the trade. Further shipments have since arrived by the Waitemata, so that a plentiful supply will now be available. The same vessel also brought canned fruit and new season's Thomson's bulb seedless raisins. Owing to there being no Sydney boat in this port last week, this week's arrival is expected to bring a very comprehensive range of all seasonable goods from, various transhipments. The Mahia, which arrived last week, brought further consignments of South African apricots in the cheap grades. The higher grades are in temporary short supply, with only very few merchants being able to accept business for immediate delivery. Owing to the high prices ruling on Ceylon tea. merchants have been compelled to lift price slightly, principally in the cheaper grades. There has been considerable competition in the bacon trade during the-past few weeks, and as a result one of the leading bacon curers has reduced prices %d per lb last week. One oi the smaller packers has since followed suit, but others are maintaining prices meantime. The change over in the picking of 3oz to 2oz tins of pepper has caused a wide diversity of prices, but owing to the high market and the withdrawal of offers on 3oz by the various packere, the price of the smaller packing is now practically uniform throughout the Dominion. A new processed cheese, packed in 6oz cartons and 6H> blocks has just been launched on this market. Prices arc competitive with similar packings.

Cornsacks. Late information received shows that the Calcutta heavy jute market m still a little firmer, cables just received advising « rise of Id per dozen on 48in cornsacks for November-December direct shipment. Gum Arabia. Kodofan (gum arabic) hsae recently been quoted by cable at a: reduction of £1 per ton, as compared with the prices ruling a month Or two ago. The present price shows an advantage to buyers of £3 par ton in comparison to last year's crop quotations. The prices now ruling are for new crop, which is estimated will be ready for shipment from London about January next. . Castor Oil. Australian. thirds castor oil, packed in half cases of eight and a half gallons, is now quoter on a firmer market, an advance of l%d per gallon being cabled for the direct steamer,' leaving Calcutta early next month. Cocoa Beans. The market for Accra fine fermented cocoa beans has just advanced £2 10/ per ton, and further advances are extremely probable," due mainly . to the fact that America is buying heavily. Ling Fish. Prices for new season's ling fish are now advised for shipment DecemberJanuary from London; These quotations do not show any change on the rates quoted last year, but as consumption of this class of fish is becoming less and lees each year, there is very little interest being shown by the trade as a whole. Prunes.

The market on small size prunes has advanced and the latest reports from America received by cable yesterday indicated that the small sizes are in very short supply.

Ceyion Tea.

At the usual weekly sale held in on the stlh inst., 1,900,0001b was 1 placed under offer. Quality Was considered I to be slightly inferior to the previous week's offers, liquors were not so bright, but were more coloury. The result of the sale showed a very strong demand, with all markets operating extensively. The following adcances took place: Commons l%d, Price Broken Orange Pekoes %d, plain 8.0.P.'s and first classic Broken Pekoes %d, finest Broken Orange Pekoes %d per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6 7-32nds. Mail advices dated early October state thai the quantity shipped the previous month amounted to close os 7,000,0001b, a normal, quantity for the time of the year. Shipment* to London amounted to 10% ' millions, making the shipments ./ -to date 105% million pounds, as compared with 109 millions to the same date last year. The course of the market during the month may.be described as- about ateady, hill grown teas not fetching the ■**" same prices on account .of declining ' quality. The advance established at the, tint cafe of the monthfor the common •nd medium,kinds vu about maintained throughout, but at the .la#t sale these growths showed a slightly easier tendency. Quality generally was quite good except for Badulla taas, whieb had lost their characteristic flavour, which was ao pronounced during the previous month. All markets operated except Russia, who only bought limited quantities. There was rather more inquiry for the Persia* Gulf, but buying for this mariut was on ths Moall side. The output of crop from the principal sources of supplies continues moderate, and with no fxpectation of crops in the near future, a continuance of present values allowing for oecbnmr quality may be expected for *ome little time to come. - < - Tapl**. fiigapore and

some business was cabled to Reuang at an offer of .a further 3d per cwt reduction, which was*, accepted and confirmed immediately. Cocoa Butter. Cables received by local agents recently advise that the market for cocoa butter is now showing an easier tendency, the latest advices notifying a reduction of £3 per ton. Shellac. Quotations for A .B.T.N, shellac still remain on a very firm basis, although the market until just recently appealed to shenv an easing tendency. Business just sent for November-December shipment at slifthtlv under current rates was unsucccssfuL,as shippers' would not give confirmation except at list rates. Pepper. Up to t3ie beginning of last week pepper quotations -were quoted at slight reductions on previous list 6. Last week, however, the market took a more firm tone, cables received quoting Singapore black and Muntok tvhite at an advance of %d per lb. Bulk Dates. Local stocks .are in rather light supply at present, merchant sales having been very consistent so that shipments of n?w season's, which .are expected to arrive in Australia very shortly are eagerly awaited. Desiccated Coconut. Following on -the advices received a fortnight ago that the market for desiccated coconut was advancing and that stocks were getting >short, cables have since been received a<£»'aneing all cuts and packings 3d per cwt. Norwegian Slid. It is reported from Norway that the fishing of new season's tiffld in Norway is practically a failure, and likely to result in an acute shortage of delivery on goods already booked with the- various merchants. There has also been some delay in the deliveries of English packed sild. Generally speaking, the market for all sild is in an exceedingly firm position, most of the reliable Norwegian packers refusing to name prices and the large Scotch | packere' not being willing to sell firm.

Butter Beans. Opening quotations for . Madagascar butter beans, named some weeks ago, proved slightly higher than last year's closing rates. A cable received last week advises that the market has since come back 2/ per cwt and business has already ben transacted at the new quotations. Hardware. Reports from most of the wholesale hardware houses this week pre not quite so good as was expected. Although returns are on the increase, trade is not up to the average of .previous years, for this period. Some new' shipments of overseas goods are landing, comprising lawn mowers, garden hose and tools, aluminium cleaner, machine oils, three in one, Nyes, etc. Wholesale Currant Prioes.

Butter.—First grade factory butter, booked, 1/7% per lb, and 1/6% per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory, 1/6% per lb and 1/6. per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/5 per lb. jChee-e.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, 9%d to 10% d per lb; loaf, ll%d per lb.

Bacon.—Hams, 1/0% 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, 9d to* 1/1 per lb; rolled sides, lid to 1/3 per lb; middles,-' ll%d 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; pats, lid to 1/ per lb. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100*«, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per ton; 12%'s, £20 17/6 per ton; o%'s, £21 7/8 per ton. Southern: -2001b sacks, £18 per ton; loo's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 25's; '£19 10/ per" ton; 12%'s, £20 5/ per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/6 per ton, all leas 2% per cent diacount.

Sharp* and Bran.—Local Sharps, £8 5/ per ton; bran, £5 15/ .oer ton. Linseed.—Whole, 21/8 per cwt; ground, 22/6 per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 12/ per bushel; whole white, 12/ per bushel; whole black, 15/6 per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb;. binder, 8d per lb. Peameal.—l3/ per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—Moose, 14/ per 1001b. Bluaitone.—32/6 ner cwt. Linseed Meal.—Moose, 15/6 p»r 1001b.