MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 191, 14 August 1928, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

STEADY WHOLESALE TRADING PRESERVED CHERRIES IN SHORT SUPPLY. T?I*,SIN* SHOWS WEAKER TENDENCY "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, August 14. Wholesale grocery trade has not shown quite the same briskness a*"was evinced in the early part of last week, tout considering the time of the month the amount of business passing is regarded as being quite up to the average. Country trade in particular is regarded as being remarkably steady. General. Hood supplies of Mildura. currants and sultana* are now available in all varieties which is a very welcome change after the recent shortage of this class of fruit. I,'ntil the arrival of the Golden Forrest a few days ago, asparagus tips were in short supply, but now that supplies are again available at only a slight increase on previous quotations, a good demand is being experienced. A new line is now offered to the wholesale trade in halfpound packets of walnut halves. As there is always a very strong demand for walnut halves, a pack in an attractive carton and selling at a reasonable price to the trade (approximately 13/6 per dozen), should command considerable attention. A further item of interest is that the walnuts are New Zealand grown, which should add to the popularity and freshness of the line, for which a ready sale is predicted. A small consignment of Canadian macaroni was quite a recent landing, arid proved a ready seller, owing to the very favourable prices offered. In cigarettes State Express 50*8 and 100's are now being quoted by the wholesale at a reduction of 1/3 per thousand to the trade. Following on the recent reduction of 10/ per ton in refined sugar, prices on bag lots (ex store) have been slightly reduced. Castor and icing sugar has also registered a reduction of %d per lb. All shelled peanuts, particularly from Java, are now cleaned up on the local market, and little relief can bo expected until further supplies arrive about the end of September or early in October. A new small sprinkler table can of popper is now being marketed that will sell to the retail at the popular price of 3d per tin. It is an English product. Alaskan Salmon. Although agents have just advised the wholesale trade that they are unable to accept any further business on horseshoe salmon owing to the quota previously under offer being sold, merchants are still able to book limited business on this popular line on account of their prior bookings. Popper. The Eastern steamer was scheduled to leave Singapore for Auckland direct on Friday last and is due to arrive early in September. All quotations are no>w being made for the next direct sailing, but as this will not be until some time during December very little interest is likely to be taken in present quotations. Singapore and Muntok white is now quoted at a reduction of lHd Singapore black at an advance of %d per lb. Mail advices just received state that tho recent violent changes in this market were thought to have been manipulated by London brokers, as the higher rates were only maintained for a few days. It is expected that as the supplies of new crop pepper become more plentiful prices will be forced down still further. Ceylon Tea. The quantity placed under offer at the usual weekly sale held in Colombo on tho 7th inst only amounted to 2,000,UU01b — 0 reduction of 230,0001b on the previous week's offerings. Quality of most grades remained unchanged, and generally good. The result of the sale showed a good general demand, with Russia, in particular, buying freely. Commons remained firm, Price broken Orange Pekoes advanced %d. Plain 8.0.P.'s moved up '/6d. First classic broken Pekoes advanced 4fcl, and finest broken Orange Pekoes %d per lb. Exchange remained unaltered at 1/6 5-32. Bulk Raisins. A further decline has taken place in the American fruit market during the week just passed, and the latest quotations advise a decline of Thompson's unbleached bulk at 1/, and on oil bleached and soda bleached 1/6 per cwt. In previous reports it was anticipated that this market could not conic any lower, but for some reason, hard to gauge fiom the reports on hand, the above rcdnction has been recorded. So far the deduction has not proved to be a general one, tlie present alteration being confined to one of the larger packers. Ground Almonds. A caible receivod advises an increase of 7/6 per cwt in indent rates for English ground almonds, and that the position is exceedingly firm, both for forward and immediate shipment. Prunes. New season's prunes have proved to be on a different market than raisins, the market opening highev on the report of a short crop. It then receded slightly, but it is now showing a particularly firm tone. Some quantity business was attempted fit prices slightly below packets' present lists on Jy a few weeks ago, but was refused which gives intending buyers a good idea 01 the present strength of the market. No far no extensive buying has taken place, most of the orders received being on the light side. Croam of Tartar. Advices received this week from one of the Mew Zealand agents for English cream of tartar, notify a reduction of 2/ per cwt in the 99 per cent grade, which is the kind most commonly eold throughout the Dominion. Californlan Figs. New season's Californian figs, in both cartons and bulk, have been quoted at prices that show a slight decline on opening figures, but the market from this quarter is reported to be particularly firm. The trade, as a rule, show slightly more preference for the Smyrna packings, owing to their fuller flavour, but as the American shipment* always arrive considerably earlier than the Smyrna variety it enables a good deal of trade to be done and the greater proportion of the various packings are generally sold up quickly, owing to their being the first of the season's arrivals. Collopnane Packet Fruit. Agents advise the receipt of an advice from London reducing quotations on cellophane muscatels and almonds in packetg by 3d per dozen for prompt indent. Spanish Museatels. Quotations for Spanish museatels show a slight d<*creasc on opening rates, and as uresont priocs for ull packings are particularly low they will justify considerable attention on the part of the retail trade. Chinese Walnuts and Peanuts. Recent advices received by one of the Wgest importers of Chinese peanuts and walnuts from their principals in Tientsin, "Mt to the effect that conditions were so chaotic owing to tho Nationalist Army hi'iiig on tlii' spot, that all trade had practjcaljy ceasc I. The new crop of walnuts emeekd u>. arrive in at the end of noptSmber, -with peanuts following about two weeks later. Old crop stocks are completely liquidated.

Heinz Varieties. The latest monthly price list of Heinz products advises the following alterations: Baked beans, individaul size, advanced 3d I per dozen. Tomato ketchup, small bottles, reduced 9d per dozen, Worcestershire i sauce, small bottles, advanced 1/ per dozen. Crystallised Cherries. Recent cables received advise an increase of per lb in indent quotations for crystallised cherries. As far as local i stocks are concerned, both drained and crystallised are at present in very abort supply—any supplies available being sold at advanced rates. Agents for French shippers' advise that the crop there has proved very poor, and prices therefore for Christmas trade will be high and supplies scarce. Almond Nuts. Recent cables advise a reduction of 1/ per cwt in indent rates for soft shell almonds. Resin. The market for American resin is again being quoted at slightly easier rates, cables received by one of the principal agents during the week advising a reduction of 15/ per ton on G grade for prompt shipment. Acids. The lastest quotations received on Italian citric acid in either powder or crystal form, shows more firmness, present indent r»tes showing an increase of %d per lb. Sicily Almonds. Cables received during the previous week advise that quotations on hand picked Sicily, almonds are particularly firm, and the indent market is now showing an advance of 10/ per cwt. Motor Car Polish. One of the well-known lines of motor car polish (Karpol) has been advanced this week 3/ per dozen to the trade. Cheese. There is considerable activity in the local cheese market, stocks on spot being nearly depleted. The local price firmed again during the week-end, and the prices now quoted are considerably higher than has been the case for a long period. Wholesale Current Prices. I Butter.—First grade factory, booked, [ 1/Bper lb, and 1/8 per lb for prompt . cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/7% per lb, and 1/7 per lb for prompt cash. . Farmers' separator, 1/4 per lb. Cheese. —First grade factory, medium . size, mild, to ll%d per lb. Loaf, | 1/1 net per lb. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per }b; 7oz packets, 9/6 per dozen. Crest, 4/6 . per dozen. Bacon.—Hams: 1/2 per lb; rolled hams, 1/4 per lb; boned hams, 1/5 per lb. Bacon: Sides, 10% d to 1/ per lb; rolled sides, 1/2 per lb; middles, 1/1 to 1/3 per lb; shoulders, 9d per lb; rolled shoulders, lid per lb. Lard : Bulk, lid per lb; pats, 1/ per lb. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per ton; 12 1 /4'«, £20 17/6 per ton; 6%'s, £21 17/6 per tori. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 25's, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 5/ per ton; 6%' a, £20 17/6 per ton, all less per cent discount. Linseed.—Whole, 22/6 per cwt; ground, 23/6 per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 12/ per bushel; whole w*hite, 12/ per bushel; whole black, 14/ per bushel. Twines. —Seaming, 3/9 per . lb; binder, 8d per lb. Peameal.—l3/ per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts. — 14/ per 1001b. Linseed Meal.—l 6/ per 1001b. Bluestone. —33/ per cwt. BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE. JULY FAIRLY GOOD. SEVEN MONTHS' RETURNS. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 13. The Board of Trade figures for last month, 4s compared with July, 1927, are as follow:— Imports increased £2,086,000, exports £4,764,000, re-exports ~ decreased £1,220,000. The principal increases are:— Imports: Grain and flour, £829,000; meat, £033,000; dutiable food and drink, £965,000; raw cotton, £2,014,000. Exports: Cotton and yarns manufactures, £873,000; vehicles, £2,133,000. ! Decreases: —Imports: Wood and timber, • £1,668,000; wool, £1,063,000; rubber. | £1,137,000. Exports: Iron and steel 1 manufactures, £899,000. i _____ ! July Figures. Following shows the returns for the month of July in recent years: — 102 ft. 1927. 1928. 1 £ £ £ Imps. 100,290,000 93.370,000 95,456,000 Exps. 57,263.000 56,120,000 60,884,000 Rc-ex." 9,830,000 10,083,000 8,734,000 Totals 167,383,000 159,553,000 165,074,000 Seven Months' Returns. Following shows the returns for the first seven months in recent years:— 1926. 1927. 1928. £ £ £ Imp. 701,611,000 710,775,000 700.934,000 Exp. 395,345,000 398,458,000 416,115,000 Re-ex. 75,492,000 76,282,000 75,287.000 1,172,448,000 1,185,515,000 1,192,336,000 From the above returns it will be Been that July has been a fairly busy month at Home with the trend of trade in the right direction. Total exports are higher thah they have been for a couple of years, though they are well below the 1925 figures, viz., £76,000,000. In July of that year the total trade was £174,946,000. However, since that time prices have fallen considerably and this factor must not be overlooked in making comparisons. Taking a period of seven months the volume of business is well above that for the same periods of 1926 and 1927.