COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 65, 16 March 1912, Page 3

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. By Teleeiapb.— Preai AsEOciation.— Copyrieht. LONDON, 15th March. The Bank of England return issued for week ended Wednesday, loth March, is a3 under: — Issuk DBMrriiKsr. Noto Issue, £25,020,000 Got. debt £11,015,000 Other securities ... 7,434.000 Gold ... 36,571,060 £55.020,000 £55,020,000 Bakiiks Dmabtmekt. Pi-'priet'rs'.. Gov. becuricapital £14,553,000 ties ....£14,283,000 Public de- Other secsuposits ... £3,771,000 rities ... 43,0515,000 Other ie- Notes ... 26,901,000 posits ... 43,590,000 Coin ... i.i11.000 Best, 7-day , and other " WIIb ... 3,787,000 £85,651,000 .£85.651,000 The leu2ing items- of the Bank of Engl»nd return afford the following comparison:— Thfa week. Laafc week. Lasfc Tear. -S . . -fi £ Bullion ... 36,571,000 37,642,000 37,422,000 Ressrve... 5*8,312,000 29.273,000 29,846,000 Note ciru'^S.ll9,ooo 25.253.000 27,24t> 000 Deposits 67,361,000 C 6.123.000 63,447,000 Proportion reserre to liabilities •. , 4J.26 . 51:29 GOVERNMENT* SECURITIES. The . following are tha latest ouottiiont for^ Government securmss. with a com-

THE MONEY , MARKET. The Bank of England discount rate, which bad stood at 4 per cent, since 22nd September, was reduced on ' Bth February to 3i per cent., , and , remains at that figure. . A year ago the rats was 3 per oeut. The open* market rate of discount for beat three 'month bills is 2s 6d higher at 3 9-16 , per cent. ; a year ago it was 2£. Short- loans are unchanged at 3i per cent.; twelve months -ago' the quotation was 3. In Paris the open market discount rate is 2s 6d higher at 3£ per cent. (2J' a year ago) ; and -in Berlin it is 5s higher at 43 per cent. (3£ a year ago). GRAIN AND . FLOUR. Wheat. — The market^ are quiet. Buyers are ' indifferent, and the fear of- large Argentine shipments is restraining speculation.. Thirtyieight' shillings per quarter of 4901b is asked for South Australian January and Victorian March shipments, 37s '9d for Januaryi-February cargoes from three^ ports, 36s for New Zealand March-April, and 37s 3d for Australian parcels, February-March. Small business is being done in whe^t on the spot. Australian is quoted at 40s 3d to 40s 6d (3d to 6cl up), and New Zealand, stocks of which, are practically cleared, nominally at 38s 6d. ... * Flour. — Australian patent brands are in good demand. Oats. — Market'firm. New Zealand 'oats on the spot are exhausted. "B" grade Gartons, March-April ' shipment, are quoted- at 22s 6d to 22s 9d per quarter, and La Plata, . April-May shipment, at 18s 3d. * . Pea's.— Market- flat and prices unohanged at- 37s 6d.to'3Bs 6d.per quarter of 5041b. , Beans.— Firm. New Zealand, ' 36s 'to 395- per: quarter. COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Better. — The, trade is improving, and the consumptive demand is fairly maintained. Colonial arrivals are' being cleared satisfactorily. Choicest Australian is quoted at 124s to 126s for salted and 127s perowt'for unsalted (2s to 3s up), and secondary qualities make 120s to 1225. New Zealand choicest salted is Is higher at 1263 to 128s, unealted making up to 1295. ' Choose. — The market is very firm, and New Zealand is Is higher at 74s to '75s per cwt. BRADFORD TOPS. The Bradford tops market is firm, though busines-s is limited. Quotations are, as follow: 64 's 26d per lb, super 60's 24d, common 60's 24d, s&'* 21d, SCTs 17£ d, 46's 14-id, 40*6 13$ d. These prices show no variation on tie week. German beet sugar 88 per cent, net titro is steady at 15s 3d (Id down), first marks granulated at 18s Id per cwt (2d up). . , METAL MARKETS. Copper.— On the spot, Is 3d higher at £64 17b 6d per ton; at three months, Is 3d higher at £65 12s 6dTin.— On the spot, 25s lower afc £191 per ton; at three months, 15s lower at £187 15b. Pig-iron.— Midaiesbro' No. 3, 6d higher »t 50b 9d per ton. Spelter.— Down 2s 6d, at £26 7s 6d per ton. WOOL AND TALLOW. Dalgefcy and Co., Ltd., are advised from London: The wool market is steady, and there is a demand owing to tho suspension of th« second bories of London sales. For tallow in general prices show no change since last week. There is warcelv. any business doing, owing to the strike. LONDON MEAT MARKET. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., were advised by cable- yesterday from London: There is a better demand for frozen meat, and the market is firm, but prices are unchanged. (Received March 16, 10 a.m.) KAURI GUM. .., , .LONDON, 15th March. At the kauri gum sales, 186 cases were offered and 17 sold. Prices were unchanged. SILVER. Bar' silver is quoted at 26 7-8 d per .ounce standard.

Price. Variations compared with last week. 21% Imperil Console '..-. 4 % .New S«»tH Wales. ... W% Kenr South Wales ... 5 % New South Waleb .„ * % Victorian ... ... 3A% Victorian' "... .... 3 % Victorian iti %youth Australian ' ... 3 % South Australian ' ..: 4 %Queenslnnd 3i%<^ueattsiaud . „.' '... 3 %VuecJUslanU ... ... 4 a4*,.Nenr JSeaLuidt 3 2>iJew,iJaalaßdt, 3i%Wtßtraiian 3 sbAVestr«ilian ... ' ... ds%TasmiUiiaa ... ,„ 3 %'l'atmuuiiaiit •, -... * - J tt . 7S' 0 0 103 10 0 97 0 0 b7 0 II 101- 10 0 38 10 0 SI .10 0 97 0 0 ISS 0 0 Utt 10 0 116 10 II 8i .0 0 104 0 0 tf7- > 0 0 bo 10 (J 95 IV U 8? .0.0 9<S 0 0 •85 0 X S'' higher : Unchanged Unehauxed Uuohiui£&d Uiiebauge'l UticUau^ed Unchanged Unchanged Uuulmuged Unchanged 10/- lower Unchanged U»chauge,d 10/- lower Unchanged Unchanged Unchanged Unchanged * Interest payable in M . t Interest payakle iv, J« t Interest payable in A] ar'and Norember. Ltiuary and July. >ril aud October.