COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1917, Page 6

COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL

(BMTBD TRESS ASSOCIATION.—C9PKRUHI.) (AUSTRAMAN-NEW ZBAUND CAIIB ASSOCIATrtJJ.)

THE METAL MARKETS.

LONDON, 30th July Tin.—Spot, £216 73 (3d per ton; three months, :£242 15s. Bar Silver.—39Jd pep ounce standard. Other metals unchanged.

CHRISTCHURCH PEODUCE MARKET,

(»T TBLEORAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHEISTCHUECH, 31st July

The final Jd rise in the maximum price of wheat now comes into operation, but neither millers nor merchants have any hope that it will bring forward any quantity. Buyers during the past few months have visited every part of the country districts, and state that they do not know where any -wheat is held. So far as further supplies are required for the remainder of the cereal year, beyond those now in millers' hands, it is apparent that they can only bo met with Australian wheat. The oats market is in much the same position as that for wheat. local stocks in the country are practically exhausted. There may be a few odd lines, probably more in stack than in bags, as oats in tho form of chad are still available, showing that there are still some oat stacks.standing. There is a little business in chaff, but it is restricted on account of tlio scarcity of coastal shipping. Prime heavy chad, which is scarce, is worth £4 to £i 5s at country stations. The potato market is in an unsatisfactory state. The Auckland market is now fairly clear of supplies, but in view .of the steadily falling market in the South Island, the northern buyers are not anxious to make purchases. Tiinaru continues to undersell Christchurch merchants, and the former gets most of the business that can be done. There is not a large quantity of potatoes offering locally, as growers have been holding in the hope that the market would recover, but a few are accepting the present position, and have taken as low as £2 10s at country stations, while others have refused £2 15s. The potatoes being in the pits, there is no risk in holding for a time yet. There ■is no prospect at present of an outlet in Sydney, as the market there has shown no further advance during the past few weeks, and local prices, low as they are, are still above the parity ol the Australian market. , The demand for seeds for spring sowing is moderate.