COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1912, Page 3

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL.

BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. By Telegraph. -Press Association.— Copyright. The Bank of England rifcurn issued for LONDON, 26th January, week ended Wednesday, 24th January, is as under: — Itsvs Defaetmxkt. Note Issue, jess,i«B,ooo Got. debt £11,015,000 Other seourities ... 7,iM.000 Gold ... 37,0t9,000 £55.468,000 £55,468,000 Banking Dbpaetmekt. Pi-'priet'rs 1 Q O v. securi. _ WW 4 *! £14,553,00? ' ties ... £16,270.000 Public de> Other gecuposita ... 10.657,000 rities ... 32.570.000 Other do- Notes ... a 7,657,000 posits ... 89,214,000 Coin ... 1.0i0.000 Best, 7-doy and other bills ... 3.495.000 £76,922.000 £76,922,000 The leading item* of the Bank of England return afford the following companion: — This week. Last week. Last year,

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are ttit latest quotation! for Government securities, with a comparison of those ruling last week:—

* Interest payable In May mid November, t Interest jrayabltf in January and July. J Interest payable iv April aud October. THE MONEY MARKET. The Bank of England discount rate remains at 4 per cent., to whioh it was raised on 22nd September. A year ago tho rate was 4i per cant. The open market rate of discount for best three months bills is Is 3d lower at 3 11-16 p. 0 .; a year ago it was 3|. Short loans are 5s higher at _3| per cent. ; twelve months ago the price was 32 per cent. The open market discount rate in Paris is 7s 6d higher on tho week at 3 per cent. (2j, a year ago); the Berlin rate is 2s 6d higher at 3 per cent. (3£ a j-ear ago). THE GRAIN MARKETS. Wheat. — The markets are quiet, and buyers are indifferent. The preliminary ollicial estimate of tho Argentine crop is 4,642,000 tons. 37s 6d is asked for South Australian November shipment ; 37s 3d for March shipment; 37s 3d for Victorian loading ; 3os 3£d has been paid for parcels Australian January-February shipment. There is a good demand tor Australian, on spot, at 38s. Flour is steady. Australian patents, ex store, 25s 6d. Oats are .quiet. La Plata JanuaryFebruary shipment, 16s 6d. COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Butter. — Tho market is dull, and buyers have abstained from purchasing to the utmost possible, limit. Choicest Australian, 126s to 128s, occasionally 130s; New ZoaI' land, 130s to 1345. Some Victorian and New South Wales butters are showing »igns of heat at the time of manufacture. Cheese is quiet. New Zealand. 72s to 735. Bacon.— There is a fair demand for Australian at 44s to 50s. "Sugar.— German 89 per cent, net'titre 6d lower at 15s 2d per ewt; first mark granulated, f.0.b.« Hamburg,* Id lower at 17s 4d. BRADFORD WOOL. The Bradford Tops market is dull, and the prices aro unohanged. PRICES OF METALS. Copper — On the spot, 13s 9d lower at £62 2s 6d per ton ; three months, 30s lower at £62 2s 6d; electrolytic, £65 7s 6d. Tin— On the spot, 50b higher at £194 per ton;, three months, £3 15a higher, at £192. . Pig-iron, 3d lower at 49s per ton. Wolfram, 29s 3d. Lead, soft foreign, £15 12s 6d per ton. Spelter, £26 10s per ton. WOOL SALES. (Received January 27, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, 26th January. 1 There is good competition at the wool sales, and full rates are being maintained for line merinos. American buyers are keeping the best of the crossbreds, but faultier are irregular.

Price. Variations compared with, last week. 4 2i% Imperial Consols ... 4 % New South Wales ... S\% New Bouth Wiiles ... 8 £ New Bouth Wales ... 4 % Victorian 3£% Victorian 3 % Victoriau 3i%fr'outk Australian 3 % South Australian . ... i 3}%(^ueeii6l«,nd 3 %(ju«euslsD<l \ i %!>etr Zealand* 3i^New Zealuudt a %New Zealand! 3i%Webtra!un 3 % W*Btr*lian oi'^l'iuimai^lau 3 %Ta«iuauiau £ s. d. 77 7 6 105 10 0 Hi) 0 0 87 0 o 101 10 (i 36 lo 0 31 10 0 97 • 0 U 85 0 0 IU'J 0 0 fti lv o SI 10 C 10> 0 0 87 10 0 37 tO U 95 lv 0 87 0 0 OtJ 0 C 85 0 0 Unchanged Uuchauged Uuclituged Unclmueed Unchanged Uncbaiigeil Uuchuuged Uuchuuged UuchaiiKed Unchanged UuchiiDged Uuchnimed UnchflDged Unchanged Unchanged Uuobuugod Uuchrtnged 10/- lower Uuchuuged

Bullion ... 37,019,000 36.451,000 35.025,000 Reserve... 5J8.682.0U0 27.713,000 27,177 000 Note cim' 27,8 11, 000 28,044,000 27,251 000 Deposits 58,871,000 56,592,000 52,342,000 Proportion L'oserre to liabilities 48.70 48.94 51.89