COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 75, 25 September 1897, Page 2

COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL.

[PBESS 'ASSOCIATION.] •n -d i r 1^ 1 "? 01 *' 23rd September. llie Bank of England returns published to-day show the total reserve to be' £24,350,000 (#105,000 less than last week) the proportion of reservo to liabilities boint; 5010 per cent. Three months' bills are discounted at 2$ per cent.

•Interest payable in" May and November, tlnterest payable in Jariaary afiu July. 1 ' " -• .' payable in April and Octfljieft . -^ „ - The English wheat market shows a general decline of 6d, the Continental is declining and weak ; while the American is also declining. Californian No. 1 milling, for early shipment, 39s ; Russian cargoes (Ghirka). 36s 9d c.i.f. per 4921b ; London, quotation for No. 1 hard Duluth, 34s 3d per 4801b. The American visible wheat < supply is estimated at 24,024,000 bushels. ' The Bradford wool market has an upward tendency. The sugar market is Bteady. German beet, 88deg, 9s per cwt. ; Java cane, No. 15, D.S., 11s 3d per cwt. Pig iron, Glasgow warrants, No. 1, 44s 9dper ton, f.o.b. in Clyde. Babbits are brisk of sale at 9£d to lOd. London stocks are exhausted. Hares, 2s 6d. NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on the produce markets for the week ending 24th September as follows : — Wool — Advices from the manufacturing centres are still encouraging, but we havo nothing startling to report. The next London series of sales will open on Tuesday, the 28th inst., when we hope to see the' firm tone now prevailing well maintained, and the anticipated advance in prices realised. We expect a fair catalogue of oddments for our next local sale on the Ist prox. Sheepskins —In the absence of auotion sales this week there is no change to record. For OKU- usual fortnightly sale, to bo held on the Ist prox., we shall have a very large catalogue of first-class skins to offer buyers, and we look for keen coir/petition. Hides— The local demand continues slack, but the outside markets are strong, and keen competition is elicited for all consignments sent forward, and full rates obtained. Tallow— The Home market is reported a little stronger, but the local demand is lifeless, only small lots meeting with any sale. Fowl Wheat— AT fairly good demand is experienced at late rates— viz., 3s lid to 4s, sacks extra, for good whole wheat. Oats — The market Bhows a hardening tendency, but quotations are without change. Only small transactions are passing locally. We look f or.a gradual improvement in prices shortly, as heavy shipments are being made from Southern ports to Home and Australian markets. Quotations are-^-For prime heavy feed, 2s 6d to 2s 7d, sacks in, ex store. Chaff. — The demand during the week has been good, and a rise of about 5s per ton has taken place. Local stocks are now almost exhausted; and Supplies' vrillh&Ve to be drawn from the South, where the market is very firm. Quotations are, for prime bright heavy, 80s to 85s per ton, sacks extra, ex store. Maize. — There is a good demand and the market is very firm ; all prime lots coming forward meet with ready sale at from 2s 4d to 2s sd, sacks in, c.i.f. 'Potatoes. — Stocks are still heavy, and tbe market very weak. Quotations range from 60s to 62s Cd, sacks in. Fungus. — There is a good demand at late rates for all well dried parcels.

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Price. Variation as compared with last week. Jf % Imperial Consols t % New South 'Wales i\% New South "Wales 5 % New South Wales I % Victorian fy% Victorian t % South Australian i\% South Australian 5 % South Australian I % Queensland ii% Queensland I % New Zealand* ... i\% New Zealandt ... i % New Zealandt... H% West Australian 1 % West Australian 'i/o Tasmania^ £ s. d. 11l 5 0 122 15 0 108 0 0 101 5 0 113 0 0 108 0 0 Unchanged. 10/- higher. S '- higher. _ 5/- higher: ' ITuchauged. lUnchangred. Ul 0 0 100 0 0 113 5 0 108 0 0 117 0 0 109 0 0 100 5 0 109 0 0 Unchanged. 5/- higher. 5/- lower. 5/- higher. 10/- higher. 1 5/- higher. Unchanged. Unchanged. 1110 0 0 |20/- higher.