MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

BUSINESS IMPROVES

SOAP ADVANCED. ' BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON PRICKS NAMED. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, September 3. During the past week merchante have experienced better trading conditions, and business prospects for the next week or two are exceedingly bright. The sharp rise recorded on butter in the London market during the last week will undoubtedly give a great fillip to country trading, the latest quotation of 97/ per cwt being the bout price realised for almost two years, and is at least 20/ above quotations ruling twelve months ago. Cable advices state that the market is firm and active. General News. The arrival of the Wanganella last week relieved the short stock position of merchants on Miklura finite and also canned fruits. By tlie same vessel merchants received further supplies of desiccated coconut, which had boon short, peanut kernels, macaroni and vermicelli, also canned peas. The bonus scheme on a well-known line of health biscuits, which has been in operation for the past month lias now been withdrawn. A popular pack of laundry soap is now being sold with the addition of a dish cloth free with euch carton, which should take on well with both the retail grocery trade and the public. A line of meat extract previously sold with a plusage is now exempt. English quotations for sardines lately to hand show that the market is very firm. Merchante are still waiting on further supplies of Australian 71b tins of prunes, which are expected to arrive by Sydney steamer to-day. A further small shipment of light amber walnut halves has just come to hand, this shipment being the last to arrivis thie year, and on account of the small etocke available prior to thie landing it is not anticipated that existing supplies will last more than a week or two. Amongst recent arrivals from overseas a quantity of English linseed oil and English lump whiting has come to hand. Quotations on oil are quite attractive. A further small shipment of South African jam apricots has come to hand, this being the last consignment expected to arrive thie year, and supplies are expected to be cleaned up fairly quickly. A line of "roll your own" tobacco offered in standard and fine cut packings is now being sold in 2%1b tins, which should appeal to the tobacconist and storekeeper on account of the handy size. Bookings of new season's cheese are now being made, but deliveries of some of the best known brands will not be made until November. Penang seed tapioca is at the moment in very short supply", and merchants are anxiously waiting on the arrival of the direct steamer which is due here about the 6th instant. Overseas markets on most Eastern goods are exceedingly firm at-the moment. A well-known and popular line of furniture polishing oil is now being offered throughout the retail under a special bonus offer of (stipulated minimum assorted parcels for three months, commencing Ist October, at a special discount of a per cent. Arrivals to hand from overseas during the past week comprise consignments of China tea, light amber walnut halves, plain iodised salt in l'e. also drums and pouring tins of iodised salt, health saline, Siam rice. English eigarettoss, medicinal emulsion, African whole ginger, canned peas, spaghetti. sliced and Halves peaches, canned apricots, slab apricots, greespproof paper, desiccated coconut, shelled peanuts, 1, 2 and 3-Crown sultanas, 2 and 3-Crown currants, fluid magnesia, etc.

Soap. A rather heavy advance to the extent of £3 per ton was announced last week on all grades of laundry soaps. In view of the very strong state of the market on raw niatei'ials, the possibilities of further advances are considered exceedingly likely. Dried Pears. The market for 101b boxes of Australian dried pears is completely sold up. Shippers state that there is a. limited offering of 2-Crown in 141b boxes only. Opening prices have been named on new seasonis salmon, and a comparison of present rates with those ruling last season ehow a reduction on all grades of British Columbian, with the exception of Cohoes, which show a substantia) advance on last year's opening rates. This is no doubt caused by the higher values now quoted on Alaskan grades. Thie season packers are quoting in Sockeyes both standard aud fancy grade, and in pink.i Fraser pink and fancy pink New season's prices for Alaskan %'s have just been announced, and the market for this size is considerably higher than last season's rates, a comparison showing present quotation's at an advance of 5/3 per case. Resin. The market for resin continues to show further advances in cables received last week, quotations for G grade showing an advance of 2/ per ton and N 2/G per ton. Shippers' rates are now practically back to the level ruling about three months ago.

Turpentine. The market for pine tree turpentine is becoming very difficult to follow, to-day's quotations in cables just to hand showing a reduction of l'/4d per gallon on the previous week's rates. Prior to this advice the market was showing definite signs of firmness, but it has now reacted, and it i« difficult to know the future trend of the market. Walnut Meat. New season's prices for walnut meat are not yet named, and present indications point' to prices not being available for some little while yet. Last season prices were out particularly early, and the absence of quotations is no doubt due to the material change in stock- and the now crop position, sellers therefore being unable to gauge their quotations as early as usual. Kerosene. In view of the cancellation of the sailing of a. certain line of steamers, ship* niente of kerosene have been a littie irregular, which line had a tendency to affect the local market. However, further quantities are expected by the Sheaf Holme early this month, and the market should then be well supplied again. Tapioca. The market for tapioca remains unchanged, although one seller advises quotations at fractional advances. A parcel put through by cable last week at counter offers oh the quotations made for the November-December sailing was confirmed and should prove good buying to-day. Quotations at .present are just a shade above the lowest level 'quoted for the present and last steamer. Pepper. The market for pepper is a shade easier, cables advising a reduction of %d per lb, and quite a fair quantity of business has been covered for the next direct steamer sailing. Prices of pepper seem to have steadied up somewhat, any fluctuations recorded beinj* within very narrow limits. Coconut. The .desiccated coconut market is again very firm, in quotations just to hand an advance of 1/ per cwt being recorded. Australian Dried Fruits. The Control Board advises that quotations for Australian dried fruits, sultanas and currants in all grades, as well as packet lexias. have been nominated for September delivery at present quotations. Peaches and Nectarines. A short position is advised on dried peacfres and nectarines also. Stocks in both lines are particularly light and when the' selling soiison commences merchants will be fairly short of supplies on account of only light cover being taken, due to the fact that sellers were not prepared to go past August for shipment.

Canned Fruit. \ possibility of shortage in certain linos of canned fruit is considered extremely likely. Buyers who have made contracts have been compelled to take delivery at the end of August, and on account of the necessity of carrying fairly heavy stocks until the consuming season commences deliveries have boon lighter than required to handle the demand. In addition to this, supplies are not available except where covered by contract. Cloves. Quotations fpr Zanzibar cloves in cables received during the past week show an exceedingly firm market, prices beinp; at an advance of 2%d per lb on previous rates. Jordan Almonds. Quotations for Jordan almonds are very firm, late cables received from London showing an increase of 5/ per cwt. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked, HMsd per lb and lid per lb for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked, lOMkI per lb and lOd per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 9d per lb. Cheese. —First grade factory size (80'e), 5%d per lb net; best quality medium (40's), HVid per lb; tirst quality, Od per lb; loaf, 7Vid per lb; tinfoil, '/61b pats, 1/3 per lb. Honey.—Bulk white, GVid per lb; light amber, 5%d per lb. Bacon. — Ham, 1/1 per lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/3 per lb; cooked whole' ham, 1/5 per lb; cooked rolled ham, 1/0 per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/8 per lb; bacon sides, lOVad per lb; rolled sides, 1/ per lb; lolled middles, 1/1 pur lb; shoulders, T'/fcd per lb; rolled shoulders, B'£d per lb; cooked pressed shoulders, lid per lb. Lard, bulk, 6%d per lb; pats, 7d per lb; dripping, 5d per lb. Lineeed.—Crushed. 24/9 per cwt; whole, 23/9 per cwt. Linseed Meal.—l 2/9 per 1001b. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £14 12/0 per ton; 100'e, £15 10/ ton; 50's, £16 ton; 25's, £16 15/ ton; 12%'s, £17 2/U ton; e&'s, £18 2/G ton. Malt.—Crushed, 10/3 bushel; whole white, 9/6 bushel; whole black, 11/0 bushel. Twines. —Seaming, first quality, 2/3 per lb; second quality, 1/11 per lb; binder, 40/0 per cwt. • Bluestone.—27/6 per cwt.