MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 124, 28 May 1929, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

GOOD COUNTRY TRADING. SUSSEX DISCHARGING. COCOA BUTTER EASIER. "Auckland Star - -' Office, Tuesday, May 28. Last week wholesale grocery merchants commenced the delivery of all their forward bookings, made earlier in the month. Trade, although not quite so heavy as originally anticipated, is still quite brisk, tbje being particularly noticeable alter the quieter period ruling during the few weeks previously. Country trading is generally good, and this week proved no exception, but town and suburban storekeepers eeem to have ordered much mote conservatively for the new month The ODening of schools this week alter the usual holiday vacation, resulted in a good deal ot buying being done on behalc ot the children, "mothers taking -the opportunity of purchasing any necessities ot tTter clothing. Many o[ the town store. have been making special displays for this particular trade, and some excellent business has been the result. General. \ large number of oversea, vessels are living into port this week and before Z end of the week the total tonnage it povt will be heavier than it has been .in months. The most important as far Jβ the grocery trade ie concerned m the arrival o£tL Sussex, which vessel u now Scharging, There hu been a great deal rfSSSa&w as to the amount ot damage Spurred in the recent fire took place won after this vessel eit «»»£ but importers will not be able to relieve iheir anxiety until the cargo Iβ all daKeel 2 in the sheds. As regards Eastern commodities from the Stiaib, Settlements, with the exception ot pepper, practically all liw* can be T£P la ?. Ed ««!* favourable baeie, the only difficulty being the lapse of time in bringing replacement stocke forward. Pepper can be bough, but the market is very high at present, which rather complicates matters. In regard to Indian shipments, there is not another sailing from this quarter until August-September next, which makes the matter of replacement exceedingly dtfhcult, and as the demand for many ot tliewe lines is a seasonable one, it is considered very unlikely that there would be much of a demand if further etocke were brought down by the next sailing. So far the Unas most affected from this quarter are haricot beans and eplit lentils, which are very scarce just at present. Other lines are coir door mats and jute goods such a> corneacke, wool -packs., cental bags and San, etc. One result of the present pepper shortage has been the increase in price of a locally packed line, and ae the stock position gets worse other^bran As are expected to increase also. Loca s ppliee of clothes pegs are rather low just At oreeent and as the next consignments are not due until about the 10th of next month, and are arriving at slight increases in cost, the market at present is unusually Brm. Canned meat* have made some advances lately, local packing compwiee having all increased their prices. Slight alterations have been made in all varieties but it is in corned beet that the hea*ie»t advance has been made• Cheeee supplies have not been, so plentuul lately, v,ith the result that the market has been rather firm during the last few weeks. A email shipment of Smyrna sultanas came to hand a tew days ago. and were very well received, the quality and grade bemg particularly fine. Prices are considered ouite favourable to buyers. Further small shipment of Taemanian mutton birds came to hand by the Sydney steamer, *o that small quantities are now available from local merchants. A new pack of honey is now being offered in 4oz pots, which should prove quite an # attractive trade line. During the past lew weeks «omo merchants have been short on quite . a number of southern lines such as pearl harler. epilt peas, breakfast foods, wax matches, etc., but with the arrival of further consignments the market is now well supplied. Cocoa Butter. \ week ago the English market for cocoa butter declined 2/ per cwt, and now agents advtee the receipt of a further oable reducing quotations by another 1/ per cwt. Ceylon Tea. At the weekly sale held at Colombo on the 21«t inat, 3,500,0001b of tea was placed under offer. Quality of all thejow country grades was poor in comparison to the medium and up-country eorts, which were rather useful, the colour being better ami the liquors being brighter. The result of the sale ehow?d a fair demand for all grades. Commons were quoted at firm rates. Price broken Orange Pekoes declined Y*d per lb. plain broken Pekoes reduced %d per lb, firet classic broken Pekoes reduced Id per lb. and fine broken Orange Pekoes reduced %d per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/7 9-32. Spanish Muscatels. Opening rates quoted on Spanish muscatels about a fortnight ago were listed at a higher level than the previous season. During" the past week, however, the tendency of the market has boen elipbtly easier, and the latest cable advice shows a reduction on 51b and 20lb trays of •2/6 per cwt, and on lib cartons, packer and loose; 10/ per cwt. Smyrna Figs. .•\ further reduction ha* taken place in the market on several varieties of Smyrna fiea of 6d per cwt, and the market is now reported to be particularly firm. Canned Fruits. The. Australian market for rnoft varieties of canned fruit is reported to be particularly firm just now, supplies for export being sold up on all varieties of standards and seconds peaches, only very email stocks being held for- home eon-sumption. Apricots are still available in both first and second grades. Sicily Almonds. The market on Sicily almonds has been exceedingly difficult one for buyers to follow owing to the speculative nature of this market. Up to a few weeks ago both present and new season'e rates were quoted on an advancing market, but now cable advice has been received showing a. decline in the market for present sea- ; sonffi for prompt shipment of 9/ per cwt, J and for first shipment of new season's of 13/ per cwt. 1 American Raisins. Although no alteration ha.=i been advised' in packers' quotations for the various varieties of bulk and packet raising, the market ie eaid to be unusually firm, and further increases in the forward market ruay be expected. Prunes. Late cables received from California advise that all the intermediate eizea of primes are now exhausted, and although the large and the smaller eizee are still available they are in' exceedinly short supply. Preserved Ginger. All' market* ia connection withe the Kupplv of preserved ginger are unusually linn 'just at present and higher prices may, therefore, be expected. Pepper. All-quotations for both Singapore and Muntok grade* of pepper are remaining naiuually firm, cables received by agents Wfc week advising a further increase of

Id per 1b on the various grades. Any stocks available aro now in very small compass, and no reduction in this market may therefore be expected before supplies of the new season's crop become available about July next. Nutmegs and Mace. The market on both nutmegs and mace has shown an easier tendency lately, and the prices now quoted on the former line are to-day ae low as they have beeu over a very considerable period. Tapiocas. Following *n the previous advances made on both sago and tapioca, this market has ehown some slight weakness, and at '/resent prices for the next direct sailing are listed at about 5/ per ton_ reduction on previous rates ruling. Very little business has been done at the reduction eo far, mainly it is considered, owing to the bulk of merchants' requirements having already been booked. It is, however, quite likely that immediately merchants find out what quantity of their consignments ex the Sussex requires replacing, they will book immediately on the present favourable market. New stocks could" be brought forward via Australia in a little over six weeks. Canary Sees. The price for Argentine canary seed ha« ruled at a figure during recent months, very little buying so far taking place on this account. Cables lately to hand do not give any prospect of any casing of the present situation, 'but rather of even a still higher market, shipper* , having now advanced their quotations another £6 per ton during the week. Chinese Peanuts. Cables receive,! by agents during last week notify a slight reduction in quotations for Chinese No. 1 hand-picked peanuts for prompt shipment from Tientsin. This quotation, in comparison to previous rates, shc-'ws a reduction or 10/ per ton. Chinese Walnuts. This market also shows an easier tendency, quotations just received for present season's Chinese walmvlo showing a reduction of £"2 per ton. Java Kernels. New season's Java kernels are now quoted for prompt shipment at firm rates, but offers have also been made tor shipment about August next at a reduction on present rates of £1 per ton. Cocoa Beans. • Eecent quotations received for We6t Indian cocoa beans show an unusually firm market, slight advances having already been made for prompt shipment. The trade have also been advised that shipping freights on this line are being increased as from July 1, which will make an increase on the present freight of $3.00 per ton; so that buyers are endeavouring to t ,jt shipment made before that date. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked, l/6'/3 per lb, and 1/6 per lb tor prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/4& per lb, and 1/4 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/1 per lb. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, 9%d to lOVid per lb net; loaf, llVsd per lb net. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per lb; Toz packets, 9/6 per dozen. Bacon.—Hams, 1/ per lb; rolled hams, 1/2 per lb; boned hams, 1/3 per lb. Bacon: sides, 11 lb; rolled shoulders, 1/1 per lb; middles, 1/2 per lb; shoulders, S!~d per lb; rolled shoulders. 10' M per lb. Lard, bulk, 9d per lb; paw, 10d per lb. Flour.—Local, '2001b tacks, £1S per ton; 100's, £1S 15/ per ton; SO's. £10 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per tou; 12 1 /2 , 5, £20 17/6 per toil; GYi'e, £21 17/6 per tou. Southern flour, 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £1S 13/ per ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 2j's, £19 10/ per ton; l2Ws, £20 5/ per ton; 6l4'e, £20 17/6 per ton. Ail less 2Ya per cent discount. Linseed.—Whole, 22/ per cwt; ground, 23/ per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 12/ per bushel; whole, white, 12/ per bushel; whole bjack, 14/9 per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, Sd per lb. Peameal.—l2/ per 1001b. ' Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—ls/ per ,1001b. Linseed Meal.—l 7/ per 1001b. Blueetone. —35/ per cwt.