COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14001, 6 March 1909, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Mr Hugh Mitchell, secretary of the Money Club, reports that during February loans to the amount of £7OO ■were granted by the club, and that applications for loans of upwards of £l5O were received by the Trustees at this week’s meeting. COMMONWEALTH REVENUE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY", March 5. It is anticipated that the Federal revenue will be £846,000 less than it was for the preceding year. BANK OF AUSTRALASIA. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 5. The Bank of Australasia have declared a dividend of 12s and a bonus of 8s per share; £60,000 was added to the reserve, £15,000 to premises account, and £16,795 carried forward. MONEY AND MARKETS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 5. —Bank Returns and Discounts.— The Bank of England returns show the stock of gold coin and bullion to be £36.535,000; reserve, £27,605,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities 48.83. The notes in circulation total £29,056,000; public deposits, £15,794,000; other deposits, £40,705,000; Government securities, £15,141,000; and other securities, £32,020.000. The bank rate of discount is 3 per cent. Short loans are discounted at 2| per cent., and three months’ bills at 2£ per cent. Consols are quoted at £B3 17s 6d. —Colonial Stocks. The following are the quotations for colonial Government stocks, compared with those ruling a week previous : . Feb. 26. Mar. 5. New South Wales 4’g 109 109 New South Wales 31’s 981 98! New South Wales 3’s 83 87 Victorian Vs 103 1031 Victorian 3i's 99 99 Victorian 3’s 87 8/ South Australian South Australian 3’s 841 841 Queensland 4's 104j 104 Queensland 3£’s 98J 98 Queensland 3’s 85| 851 New Zealand 4’s 108 107J New Zealand 3i's 99 99 New Zealand 3’s ... „. ... 88 861 Tasmanian 3i’s 97£ 97^ Tasmanian fa 87* 87 West Australian 3fs 98 981 West Australian 3’s 871 87| —Wheat and Flour.— Wheat: The markets show increasing strength, despite the enormous quantity afloat, but there is no excitement. The advance is based entirely on the urgent need of wheat in importing countries. Cargoes are very firm. A few first-hand sellers of old crop afloat are offering 40s 6d to 41s; new, 39s 9d to4os6d; February and March shipment, 39s 9d ; March and April, 40s ; Australian spot, 41s 6d to 425. Flour is very firm. Australian patent© in London is scarce; 28s 6d to 29s 6d is quoted for parcels afloat; 28s 6d for exstore parcels and on passage (Glasgow 30s). Holders asking 30s 9d. % —Butter.— The market, is quiet generally and unchanged. New Zealand unsalted, 108s to 110s. —Metals.— Copper : Spot, £56 17s 6d; three months, £57 12s 6d; electrolytic, £SB 15s. Tin : Spot, £l3O 12s 6d ; three months, £132. Lead, £l3 12s 6d. Pig iron, 47s l^d. Silver, 23* d per ns. —Sugar.— German, 10s 2d; first marks, 12s 3d. ANTWERP WOOL SALES. Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, March 5. (Received March 6, at .9.55 a.m.) At the Antwerp wool sales 5,018 bales were offered, and 3,914 sold. Merinos advanced 5 to 10 centimes, and cross-breds 10 to 15 sentimes. MOUNT LYELL RETURNS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, March 6. (Received March 6, at 9.55 a.m.) The Mount Lyell returns from ‘January 28 to February 24 (inclusive) show that 31,083 tons of ore were treated, and produced 683 tons of blister copper, 55,4020z .silver, and 9440z of gold.