COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 147, 18 December 1915, Page 4

COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL

(By Telegraph.—Pres3 Association.—Copyright.) BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. LONDON, 16th December. The Bank of England return issued for the week ending Wednesday, 15th Decrraber, is as follows, last week's figures hieing given in parentheses: — Coin. £50,117,000 (£50,136.000); reserve, £34,464,000 (£34,567,000); cote circulation £34,267.000 (£34,155.000); Public tlopo«it« £52,136.000 (£52.444.000); other deposits' £94,189,000 (£90.019,000); Government securities, £32.840,000 (£22.840,000); other securities, £96,865,000 (£92,910,000); proportion of reserve to liabilities, 23.55 (24.26).. Short loans are quoted at 4| per cent. (4g per cent.), three months' bills, b> s per cent. (5i per cent.). s Imperial Consols, £58 5s (£SB 17s 6d). , AUSTRALASIAN STOCKS. Current quotations for Australasian Government stocks, compared with thouo of last week, are:—4^ per cent. I. War Loan, £97 2s 6d (£97 10s); 3A per cent T War Loan, £89 15s (£B9 2s" 6d); 4 per cent. New Zealand. £95 (£95)- 3£ per cent. New Zealand. £83 5s (£B3 ss); 3 per cent. New Zealand. £76 (£76); 4 per cent. New South Wales. £95 (£95) • 5{ per cent. New South Wales, £95 15s (£95 8s 9d); 3J per cent. New South Wales, 1930-50, £83 7s 6d (£B3 7s 6d); 5 per cent New South Wales, £78 (£78); 4 per cent Victoria, £93 2s 6d (£93 55).; 3i per cent Victoria, (£9l 5s (£9l ss); .34 per cent! Victoria, 1929-49, £83 5s (£B3 ss) • 3 l-por cent. Victoria, £76 (£76); 34 per cent. South Australia, £85 (£BS ss); 3 per cent. South Australia, £70 (£70); 4 per cent. Queensland, £95 2s 6d (£95 2s 6d); 3£ per cent. Queensland, £91 5s (£9l ss); 3 per cent, Queensland, £74 10s (£74 10s) • 3£- per cent. Western Australia, £87 10s I??, 7 ! 3 P°r cent- Western Australia. £32 (£82); 3J per cent. Tasmania. £85 7s 6d (£BS 7s 6d); 3 per cent, Tasmania, £71 Is 3d (£7l Is 3d). LONDON MARKETS. Butter—The market is weak, high prices checking the retail demand. Danish butter is quoted at 166s to 170s, a fall of 4s to 8s per cwt; New Zealand sells at 155s to 158s, or 6s to 9s less than last week. Cheese—Market firm, with a good demand. New Zealand sells at 91s per cwt, or Is above last week's level. Wheat —Market quiet and prices easier, owing to the "bearish" tendency on American markets following Government reports regarding the final crop figures. Flour—The market is firm, with prices fully up to late rate. Oats—On a quiet market La Platas, November-December shipment, are sellin"at 29s 6d per quarter of 2201b. Peas—Market firm. New Zealand maples,. 60s to 65s per quarter of 5121b. Beans—On a firm market. New Zealand spring crop sell at 50s to 52s per cwt of 5121b. Sugar—On a steady market American granulated sugar is selling at 32s 6d per cwt, the same level as a week ago. METAL MARKETS. Silver—ln bars, 25 15-16 d per ounce standard. Copper—Standard, for cash, £79 2s 6d to £79 15s per ton. Tin—Straits, for cash, £164 15s to £165 10s per, ton. Pig-iron—Middlesbro' No-. 3, 77s 6d per Lead—Soft foreign, cash, £28 15s per ton; forward delivery. £28 ss. Spelter—Ordinary brands, cash, £83 per ton; forward, £78. LONDON WOOL MARKET EXCITED. LONDON, 16th December 'At to-day's wool sales competition was excited, and prices for all sorts reached tho highest levels of the torios. The "Awarua" clip made up to 21d per lb, and averaged 20d. BRADFORD TOPS. | The Bradford market for top-making wools is steady, -with fair enquiry. Prices for tops on. the spot, are as follow:—64's quality, per lb. 43d; 60's super, 42d; 60's common. 41d; 56's, 37d; 50's.' 32id; 46's, 28d; 40's, 26d. ORIENT S.S. COMPANY. LONDON, 16th December. The Orient Steamship Company shows a profit of £270,618. A dividend of 5 per cent has been declared, £50,000 is added to the reserve fund, and £96,741 carried forward. It is proposed to strengthen the underwriting, and' allotting additional, shares to deferred shareholders to meet calls thoreon. Tho directors recommend the distribution.