MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1934, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

NEW YEAR OPENS WELL WALNUT MEAT ARRIVED. RAW GINGER MARKET FIRMING. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, January 2, 1034. is expected to open op at exceptionally good volume to-morrow, as all wholesale departments will be opening up again with nearly full staffs, and will therefore be able to cater for the full demands of the storekeeper. Travellers will be resuming after their vacation, and the trade will be very busy this weeii in replenishing stocks. Trade during Christmas week was noted for its exceptional volume, the opinion of many beinff that the business transacted during that week was the best that bad been experienced for many years. Between the Christmas and New Year holidaj's wholesalers operated with a skeleton staff only, and these were kept fully occupied in looking after various urgent requirements. General News. One of the features of the Christmas and New Year trade which, has just passed has been the exceptional clean-up on many lines. Currants were much Bought after, and quite a number of wholesalers bad to advise their inability to execute storekeepers' requirements. Tartaric acid powder also has been wanted, apparently stocks available not being sufficient to take care of general requirements. Some interest has f.lso been noted in peanuts in shell, possibly due to the fact that peanut kernels are not .plentiful in some quarters. The most welcome news that storekeepers received during Christmas week was the arrival of the new season's dates, which, although very late, were here just in time to be distributed for Christmas trade. The first consignment which came to hand by the Marama comprised 11,000 cases, and the wharves presented a very busy appearance with, merchants anxious to take delivery of their consignments as quickly as possible, and so complete their indent deliveries. A very popular pack this year lias been the ( new pitted dates, •which arrived in cartons cellophane. Tho cellophane packing particularly has proved very popular, and should be niueh in demand by the public. Some varieties of salmon are short temporarily, particularly in pink grades. It has been noticed lately that there has been more of a demand: for Australian unpotiishedi rice, which is now coming forward by almost every Sydney steamer. Asparagus tips are also selling remarkably well _ just at the ■moment, and as recent shipments landed on a favourable exchange basis, merchants' selling rates are particularly attractive. With ■ New Zealand _ walnuts sold up, small consignments of Chinese were brought forward from Melbourne, and these proved particularly welcome, just filling the gap of the general shortage. Most indent houses have been closed down during the Christmas and New Year perio'd for their annual vacation. Nuts of all descriptions were well cleaned up, and the same also applies to muscatels and figs in fancy packings.

Walnut Meat. The second shipment of new season's walnut meat arrived by the Marama Christmas week, and was very welcome as supplies were very short. Quality was not quite up to usual standard. This, of course, is to be expected, due to the crop beins late and shippers being very anxious to get shipments away in time for Christmas trade. Late cables advise that the market is firming, and prices are likely to advance. Ginger. An advance of £2 per ton on raw ginger has just been -advised, and as 6tocks here are fairly 6liort there seems every likelihood of a further increase in this ■commodity when the new season commences in the' New Year. Ceylon Tea. At the usual weekly sale of Ceylon tea (held on the 19th inst., 2,500,0001b weight was placed under offer. The quality was generally unchanged- and the result of the sale showed a firm market on all grades. Exchange was quoted at 1/0 7-32nds. As this sale was the last of the year, the quantity sent into auction was unusually heavy. Mainly duo to the Christmas holidays, no sale was held during the New Year week.

Resin. The American market "was active towards the end of last month. "G" was quoted at a reduction of 2/6 per ton, while "N" was quoted at a further advance, the last quotations showing an increase of 1/ per ton. Turpentine. There was little to report over the last few weeks of the old year on turpentine, cables stating that Pine Tree quotations were remaining fairly steady, with only small business passing, shipments about this period generally being limited. Peppers. The market for peppers was quoted firm, arid the last prices received showed Vsd per pound increase on black, and %d per pound advance on Singapore white and 'Sarawak -white. Prices on peppers generally have been particularly low, and some business has already been placed for the next direct . steamer's sailing in March-April. Nutmegs and Mace. Quotations on nutmegs continue firm, advancc . of Vid per pound being recorded, on both grades. Mace, on the other hand, is showing an easier tendency, quotations being reduced %d per pound. The latest advices are to the effect that :the Narbada, from Calcutta and Rangoon •ports is due in Auckland about the 4tli inst., and the Karetu, from Eastern ports, Straits Settlements, Java, etc., iibont a week later. Supplies of Eastern goods have been in particularly short supply for some months, and shipments by both vessels will be very welcome indeed., Sago and Tapioca. The market for sago and tapioca remains unchanged at the last rates ruling prior to the sailing of the direct steamer. Little interest is being noted in shippers' quotations at present, buyers looking for prices to ease nearer to the level of their last purchases. As the next steamer does not leave before March/April, they are apparently 'willing to wait and see the tendency of the market. Desiccated Coconut. Quotations on desiccated coconut are exceedingly attractive just at present, cl ippers for one of the largest houses stating that the market is very favourable to buyers "who are already operating. Dates. New season's Turban dates in cartons arrived a fortnight ago and showed an increased cost of 9d per dozen over last season's. Quality is of unusually high grade this year, and the various packings should be much in demand. Stoned dates have been rapidly cleared in London since the arrival of the new shipment, and the market is firm with further advances noted in cables received during the week. Sicily Almonds. Late cables received in connection with the market for Sicily almonds in London, state that quotations "were very firm. Ground on the other hand are showing a ■weaker tendency, last rates advised show- .... ing a reduction of 2/6 per hundredweight. Ik "

Figs. Quotations for bulk figs from London show a slight advance over last rates for immediate shipment. Forward quotations are also showing a firming tendency, advances of 1/ per hundredweight being noted for shipment in March. Brazil Kernels. Present quotations for Brazil kernels show a decrease of Id per pound over last year's closing rates, but the market remains firm with an increase of */id per pound noted last week. Cherries. The market for crystallised and drained cherries, particularly local pack, is unusually firm, the demand being so heavy that immediate stocks are practically exhausted. Quotations in some quarters have firmed up "to the extent of 2d per pound, j Almond Nuts. Quotations for soft shell almonds m cables just received show a decrease of 3/ per hundredweight. The new crop filbert nuts are also easier to the extent of 4/ per hundredweight. Dried A«ricots. Quotations have been named for new season's Australian dried apricots, and or. the present market show very attractive values, particularly as Australian will laird on the same parity as South African. So far rates on the latter have not yet been named, and comparison is therefore difficult until these figures are received. Seeds. Advices from Australia indicate that canary seed is slightly cheaper, but only very limited stocks are held. The local position is very much better catered for, as ample supplies of Argentine have just landed during the past week. Costs are estimated to work out on a particularly good basis, as confirmation was received at quite attractive figures. Australian shippers advise that new season's hemp seed should arrive in January, and is being offered at attractive rates. Although there has not so far been any change in the prices of millet seed, there is every indication of the market advancing in the near future. During the last few weeks large quantities of millet seeds have been purchased by manufacturers in Japan, and this has had a firming effect on the market. Spot stocks could not be replaced at present selling rates.

Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked 10% d per lb, and lOd per lb for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked, 9'/id per lb, and 9d per lb for prompt cash; farmers' separator, 8d per lb. .* •• Cheese. —First grade factory size (80's), 7%d per lb net; best quality medium (40's), 8d per lb; first quality, 7%d per lb; loaf, 8d per lb; tinfoil, %lb pats, 1/3 per lb: bars. 1/ per lb. Honey.—Bulk white, 4d per lb; light amber, 3%d per lb. Bacon.—Ham, 10% d per lb; rolled ham, 1/ per lb; cooked ham, 1/4 per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/5 per lb; bacon sides, B%d per lb; rolled sides, 10% d per lb; shoulders, 7%d per lb; rolled shoulders, 9d per lb; middles, 10% d to lid per lb; lard, bulk 7d per lb. pats 8d per lb. Linseed—Whole, 25/ per cwt. Linseed Meal.—2o/ per 1001b. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £14 12/6 per ton; 100's, £15 10/ per ton; 50's, £16 per ton; 25's, £16 15/ per ton; 12%'s, £17 2/6 per ton; £18 2/6 per ton. Malt.—Crushed, 11/3 per bushel; whole, white, 11/ per bushel; whole black, 12/6 per bushel. Twines. —Seaming, first quality, 2/6 per lb; second quality, 2/3 per lb; binder, 59/ per cwt. Peameal.—lo/ per 1001b. Bluestone. —32/6 per cwt. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts. —12/3 per 1001b.