MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 219, 16 September 1930, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

TRADE SHOWS FURTHER

IMPROVEMENT.

SMYRNA SULTANAS FIRMER. : RAW GINGER MARKET ADVANCED. I — "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1930. Although wholesale distributing business is considered to be fairly quiet just now, a comparison of the aggregate turnover for the Bame period of last year, shows latest returns with a slight increase.The mam feature of the inquiries just at present is the replenishing of household requirements used for spring cleaning, etc., and storekeepers are now beginning to feature these lines. As the majority of these requirements are manufactured _ within the Dominion no advance in prices has been made. General. As deliveries for the new month book-' ings commence next week storekeepers are already sending in their monthly lists and merchants are therefore anticipating a busier period throughout the various departments. Deliveries by rail commence next Monday, the 22nd, and in the town vicinity on the following Thursday, the 25th. New supplies to hand comprise shipments of No. 1 and No. 2, sizes of sweet corn,, Canadian canned tomatoes and peas. The latter are meeting with a ready demand chiefly on account of the excellent quality and reasonable price. One of the early shipments of Christmas goods has been the receipt of Brazil nuts, which are now being offered by some merchants. On the basis of this, new landing prices are .correspondingly lower than previous offerings. Owing to the firmer trend in the forward market for Singapore pines, those merchants who had been previously offering ex stock at prices less than cost to meet lower market values, will how naturally take advantage of the increafecd f.o.b. costs, and firm their prices proportionately. A rather attractive pack of mustard is now being marketed at slightly lower cost than other Standard brands. The package is quite well got up, and is also cellophane wrapped, which should prove an attraction. There is still an acute shortage of Epsom salts on the local market, merchants being unable to secure supplies even from the South. This shortage is considered to be mainly due to oVersea shipments being overdue, and from later advices now to hand consignments should very shortly arrive in one of the English oversea steamers now due. Further supplies of Californian raisins both seeded, seedless, and prunes arrived during the week. There, is evidence of keen interest in Golden Bleached raisins, and stocks locally held are now at a rather low ebb, merchants further supplies not being expected before new season's due by the September-October shipment. Certain popular lines of imported cigarettes have been reduced from 9d to 1/3 per thousand. Merchants are now offering to book new season's cheese, and as supplies of some brands were not sufficient to meet demand last year; early booking is anticipated. Australian brok6rs advise that stocks of Madagascar Lima beans are very light, and that there is not likely to be any improvement in this position until new season's arrive in March-April next year. Another line of effervescent salt has been increased 1/ per dozen duHng the past week.

. Dates. ' L .: : Last week date prices registered a further fall of 6d per cwt, and at the time of writing further cables are just to ; hand raising prices by 6d per cwt, with indications of a firming market. It has : been generally thought that the pricf« quoted have been below actual value of this commodity, and the increase, has not been unexpected. Merchants are not likely to have an opportunity of covering at these prices for long, the general expectation being that the present rates , will firm up considerably for forward shipment. i": • Sultanas. Smyrna sultanas in a recent cable received have been increased on the three crown grade 1/6 per cwt, and on the four and five crown 3/ per cwt. Raisins. 1

The raisin market remains firm at th< last price named. Offers eo far have noi , ft been accepted below opening prices foi new season's quotations for this year. Gold en Bleached are etill selling remarkably wel this line steadily increasing in popular ity. As the time for shipment of the firsl of new season's raisins in all varieties approaches it does not appear that there is any likelihood of merchants obtaining any price reductions by with-holding theii purchases any longer. Most of the ole season's forward shipments have arrived and it is estimated that there is verj little of any variety now to come forward which would indicate a scarcity of various packings before the arrival of . new croj in December. Brazil Nuts. j Cables were received about a week age advising that the market for Brazil nuts ' was, advancing, and increases in indent j rates might be expected shortly. During . the week-end a further cable was received ' from London advising an increase of 6/ per cwt on Manoa Brazil nuts. j Ceylon Tea. Owing to holidays at Colombo no sale ' was held last week, so that the quantity brought ,to auction for to-morrow'e sale should be correspondingly larger. Mail 5 reports just to hand, dated August 13, : state that at the five auctions held, during 3 the previous month 13,000,0001b were placed under offer, as compared with ' 15,000.0001b for the corresponding month ; of last year. Quite an appreciable quantity [ of these offerings were withdrawn for want! of support and shipped to London, which largely accounts for the increased quantity shipped to the market as compared with the figures for July last. year. The total exports from Colombo this year up to July 16 amount to 144,500,0001b, compared with 14§,500,0001b up to the same date last year. This decrease is largely put down to the restriction now in force, but adverse climatic conditions have also caused a short fall in the crop. Demand has been certainly below the average, and a considerable quantity of tea, particularly Broken Orange Pekoes and Broken Pekoes was withdrawn from the sale without any bids being registered and shipped to London for sale there. Values generally have declined with the possible exception of low grown teas, which have continued in good demand at: firm rates. The feature of the last two sales of the month was the somowliat disappointing prices obtained for. / good quality teas, particularly those from. the Uva district. For the time of year the rainfall lias been well under general average. The Northern Indian crop continues to fall behind last year's yield, and the crop to date is some 15,500,0001b below last year's figures to the same date. '

Prunes. The prune market is still. weak, and although no actual reduction has been, made lately, one of the principal shippers indicated in their lafet cable that a further reduction was pending. Ginger. A cable report from China indicates that the market for raw ginger is rapidly advancing, and that there _ r !s every prospect of higher prices being named 011 imported and also on the local product. ■ ' ■ Hessian. , Revised quotations received® for hessian for ehipment by next November-December direct /-steamer from Calcutta show a reduction on previous quotations 6f Id tier lb. r ■ " — Resin. Quotations on all grades are still being quoted: at prices that are- considered attractive to buyers, although during the last day or two the market has shown some firmness, and agents Avould not be at all surprised if the next cables received were listed at advanced rates.

Pepper. The pepper market remains steady at last list rates, although there was a tendency for higher prices the previous week. It is quite apparent that intending buyers will need to -watch this market very carefully for the next week or two, as any change is likely to come very quickly. Nutmegs and Mace. Nutmegs have shown little change this week, but mace is now on an upward tendency, so that to-day's prices will represent good buying, and advantage is being taken of same. Sago and Tapioca. The market for sago and tapioca still continues to firm, a sharp advance of 10/ per ton being advised this week. It is difficult to forecast the ultimate trend of this market, and, if present' conditions continue, bookings for next steamer are certain to be on a much higher basis than formerly. As advised previously, although the local market is short, no buying is being done, so that if merchants still continue to hold off the position regarding spot, stocks will become very acute in the near future. Pineapples. Very little interest is being recorded in this market just at present, and quotations are firm without quotable change. As an offset to the lack of demand agents advise that canners are now closed down until the middle of October, so that as canners* stocks become less the tendency of' this market should be for higher market values. New season's prices on Fijian pines were quoted some weeks ago, and although opening rates showed slight increases as against the opening rates of last year, good forward business has been done, being almost equivalent to the total sales of last year. • , . Sicily Almonds. London shippers advise that the market for Sicily almonds is again weak, a cable received last week advising a reduction of 11 per cwt. Jordan Almonds. Jordan almonds, on the other hand, are much firmer, the latest alteration being an increase of 2/' per cwt. The last cable received also indicates that this market is likely to advance further. Nuts and Kernels. Filbert Barcelonas and soft shell almond nuts remain firm for early shipment, but Barcelona kernels are recorded as showing a substantial drop on new season's offerings, which will be ready for shipment about October-November next. ' Peanut Kernels. Latest cablc advice regarding the market for peanut kernels advised a further reduction on an already weak market of £3 per ton for shipment by the November steamer from Java. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked 1/3 x / 2 per lb and 1/3 per lb for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked 1/2% per lb and 1/2 per lb for prompt cash; farmers' separator, 1/ per lb. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, 89id to 9Vid per lb net; loaf, SVid per lb net; Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per lb, 7oz packets 9/6 dozen. Bacon.—Hams, 1/1 per lb; rolled hams, 1 1/3 per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/5 per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/10 per lb; bacon sides, lid per lb; rolled sides, 1/1 per lb; middles, 1/2 per lb; shoulders, 9d per lb; ] rolled shoulders, lid per lb. Lard: Bulk, , 7&d to 9d per lb; pats, 8d to 9d per lb. j Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £18 10/ per ton; 100's, £19 5/ per ton; 50's, £19 15/ per ton; 25's, £20 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £21 7/6 per ton; 6&'s, £21 17/6 per ton. ! Linseed—Whole, 23/ per 1001b; ground, 1 23/ per. 1001b. Malt. —Crushed,. 10/3 per bushel; whole i white, 9/9 per bushel; whole black, 13/ 1 [jer bushel. " i Twines.—Seaming, 3/6 per lb; binder, 8d 1 per lb. Peameal.—l2/ per IOOIb. • Linseed Oil Cake Nuts—ls/ per 1001b Linseed Meal.—l 7/ per 1001b. : Bluestone.—3s/ per cwt. J