THE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9603, 18 December 1896, Page 5

THE MARKETS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright London, December 16. The quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,911,000 qnarters, and for the Continent 1,280,000 quarters. The estinialed American visible supply of wheat is 72,000,000 bushels. Tallow—Mutton, fine, 21s; medium 19s 6d; beef, fine, 19s 3d; medium 18s 3d. Shares —National Bank of New Zealand, I|-; Bank of New Zealand 4 per cent, guaranteed stock, 102£ ; Loan and Mercantile 4 per cent, prior lien debentures, 96£. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Limited, have received the following cablegram from their head office, dated London, 16th instant:— " Mutton tallow (in general) since our last telegram (December 9th), prices are unchanged, and beef and mixed tallows, prices are 3d higher. We think the market is likely to advance somewhat more, but the position is uncertain." (press association trlegram.) DUNEDIN, December 17. At the first wool sale of the season to-day 4G51 bales were catalogued and there was a full attendance of buyers, the English, colonial, and local manufacturers being well represented. The prices, although equivalent to London values, were ti&t equal to last season. Longwool and brossbreds were to Id below the prices ruling at the opening sale last year. Merinos have not suffered to the same extent, but, owing to the superior condition of tbe wools, some of the clips realised pricee almost equal to those of last season. The following was the range of values :—Threequarterbred and longwools of spund staple and light condition 7d to 7£d, fair to medium 6d to 6|d, crosabreds (well grown and in light condition) 7£d to Bd, ordinary 6Jd to 7d, halfbreds (good to super.) 7fd to B£d, fair to medium 6fd to 7£d, merinos (good super.) 7d to 7|d, fair to medium 6d to 6Jd, crossbred pieces (light and bulky) to 6£d, do wasty and small 4d to 4£d, locks l£d to 2|d.