THE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9941, 21 January 1898, Page 5

THE MARKETS.

United Press Awociation—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Received January 20th, 9.20 a.m. LoNDON,»January 19. Balme and Co., Buxton, Ronald and Co., and Jacomb, Son and Co. offered catalogues at the wool sales aggregating 7279 bales. There was a poor selection, being chiefly medium and inferior sorts. There was a large attendance of buyers and competition was animated. The prices of crossbreds were unchanged, the advance of from 4 to 5 per cent, being chiefly in sound merinos. Shares — National Bank of New Zealand, £2 5s ; Bank of New Zealand 4 per cent guaranteed stock, 108£; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency 4 per cent prior lien debentures, 97. Silver is quoted at 2s 2£d per oz. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,850,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,210,000 quarters. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile* Agency Company, Limited, have received the following London cable message, dated January 18th :— " Wool—The soles opened at an average advance of *d per lb on last sale's prices for merinos,, but the crossbred market is unchanged. Competition by both Home and foreign buyers is active and attendance good. The opening catalogue contained 7500 bales, but was not a representative one. The totM quantity-available, in* eluding wool held over from last series, is 241,000 bales, 70,000 bales of which have been forwarded to the manufacturing districts direot."

Messrs Dalgety and Co., Limited, have received the following cable message from their London office, Under date 18th inst:— " Wool sales have opened. There is a very poor selection, a large attendance of buyers, and competition is animated. For merino wools prices are on the average par to 5 per cent, higher than closing rates of last series. The advance is chiefly in good qualities. Crossbred wools are unchanged."

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 20. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cable message from London :—" Butter, 945, market falling. Cheese, 43a."