COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 64, 17 March 1898, Page 4

COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL.

« THE LONDON WOOL SALES. [press association.] London, 15th March. The wool sales have opened with irregular prices. Merinos are firmer and the bulk of crossbreds lower. (Recoived March 17, 10 a.m.) London, 16th March. Messrs. Buxton, Ronald, Balmo & Co. and Jacomb, Son & Co. offered catalogues aggregating 10.323 bales, comprising au excellent selection. There was a large cittendance of Home and Continental buyers, but only a few American houses were represented. The prices of merino were par to 5 per cent, above the olosing rates of February. Faulties and scoured showed the greatest rise. Medium low crossbred wore from par to 5 per cent, lower, the finest crossbreds being 5 por ceut. higher. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is estimated at 3,280,000 quarters, and for the Continent 540.000 quarters. National Bank of New Zealand shares are quoted at £,2 ; Bank of New Zealand four per cent guaranteed stock, 103 : New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Comprny's prior lien 4 per cent, debentures, 98. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. have received the following- wool market cablegram from their London house, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray and Co., dated 15th March: — The second series of London wool sales opened to-day. Inferior to medium burry wools advanced 10 per cent. Crossbreds par to 5 per cent, decline. Good selection offering. The United Farmers' Co-operative Association reports as follows as to the London wool sales : — Our London agents cable that the sales commenced yesterday, were well attended, and that fine crossbreds have advanced 5 per cent., and coarse crossbreds are unchanged. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, has received the following cablegram from its London house dated 15th inst. : — Wool — Merino : Tho sales opened at an average advance of about 5 per cent, on last sales' closing rates ; the principal advance has been in scoured. Pine crossbred, market unchanged ; coavpo crossbred, easier. Competition by both Home and foreign buyers is active, and attendance erood. The total quantity available, including wool held over from last series, is 323.000 bales. 105,000 bales of which have been forwarded to the manufacturing districts direct. The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association. Limited, reports that its fortnightly wool and skin sale was put off till yesterday for the convenience of buyers from the South. The attendance was large and competition keen throughout the sale. Although the wool was of an inferior description, even better prices were realised than at the sale of 24th February. Prices : —Locks. 2d to 2£d; pieces. 3d to 4,Vd; stained fleece wool, un to 6£d ; lambs, 4id to Cd. Sheepskins — Full-wool good pelt«, 5d to shd ; medium, 4d to 5d ; dead, 3d to 4£d ; pelts, 6d to Is each. Hides — Cow, 8a 6d to 10s ; ox, 15s to 17s 6d.