BUYING DEMAND MAINTAINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1944, Page 5

BUYING DEMAND MAINTAINED

Since the opening of the stock exchanges for the New Year, the strong buying demand in evidence over the closing stages of last year has been steadily maintained, and the same firm market tendency exists, with buyers raising their limits a little. There has been a good demand for Government stocks, and in nearly every case where business has been recorded prices have shown a small appreciation, no doubt because of the accrued interest over the last three or four weeks. The approximate prices for Government loans at this time last year, for last week, and the highest prices paid this week, were:— A year ago. Last This p er week. week. cent. Year. £ a *«,, 2y 2 .... 1947 98% 98V 2 98V 2 2y 2 , .... -f1947-49 — *98V4 96V 2 oi/, 1953 94% '94% M% 3'"' .... 1951-54 98V 2 99% 100 3 1952-55 99% 99 • 99V 8 3 .... 1953-56 99Vi 98%. 98 7/ 8 3 .... H953-56 — 98% 98% 314 .... 1957-60 102 101% *101V 2 3Vo .... 1953-57 102>/ 2 *103V 2 *102y 8 4- .... 1949-52 105y 4 104 *103.% 4 .. 1954-58 107% 107 *106% 4 .... 1943-46 — 101% 102% Liberty Bonds — *19/- 19/6 Wool Bonds — 19/9 19/» *Buyers. fThlrd Liberty Loan. Business in the banking and insurance groups was limited, and prices remained firm. Bank of New Zealand went to 43s iy 2 d, and were steady at 435, while business was done in Union Bank at £7 12s, with one sale at £7 13s. National Banks sold at £2 14s 9d, and in one instance at 3d higher. New Zealand and South British were the only two of the insurance stocks to record any business. New Zealand touched £4 10s 6d at one point, but settled down firmly at 6d lower. Up to £3 16s 3d was paid for South British, the same price as was ruling before the holidays. Breweries were wanted, and New Zealands went to 40s 3d, after opening up at 39s lO^d last week. Prior to the holidays they were rather quiet, and the price was 38s 6d. Dominion improved to 41s 6d, and there was a sale of Tooth's at £2 16s 6d. In the chain stores there was a steady demand, just as there was, in fact, with all the industrials offering. Woolworths (Sydney) went to 19s 9d and Woloworths (N.Z.) had business at 18s 3d. Coal shares were noticed in the transactions, with WestportStockton changing hands at 3s 6d (and 3s 4d in one instance), Taupiri at 275, and Westport at 25s 6d. Auckland Gas showed a slight appreciation over the holidays at 7s 2d. In the meat section, New Zealand Refrigerating 10s shares went to 13s Id (cum div.), and the £1 shares to 27s 7d, while Southland Frozen Meat had a sale at 43s Cd. Wilson's Cement showed a moderate turnover at a firm price of 19s 3d, a"nd there was an odd sale of Leyland O'Brien at 22s 6d. Australian shares commanded restricted attention. Colonial Sugar maintained the price of £58 established at the end of last year, and Broken Hill Pty. held firm at 44s 6d.

Per cent. 2y 2 2y 2 . 2% 3