COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14250, 27 December 1909, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

MONEY AND MARKETS'. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 24. (Received December 24, at 9.55 p.m.) —Bank Returns and Discounts.— The Bank of England roturns show the stock of gold coin and bullion to be £32.419,000; reserve, £22,799,000: proportion of reserve to liabilities. 44.89. The notes in circulation total £29,083,000; public deposits, £9,769,000; other deposits. £40.986.000: Government securities, £14,465,000; and other securities, £31,209.000. The bank rate of. discount is 44 per cent. 2 r Short loans arc discounted at 4Jd per cent., and three months' bils as follows : —London. 3;? per cent. Consols are quoted at £B2 15s. —Colonial Stocks.— _ The following are the quotations for Colonial Government stocks, compared with those ruling n -week previous :

- Wheat, Flour, and Oatt.--Wheat : The market is quiet, with a holiday tendency. Prices are well maintained. Januai-y and February r.ailers areoffering at 39s 2d, buyers about 6d less ; Australian and New Zealand spot is practically cleared. Flour : Slighty firmer. Australian patents (London). 51s 6d. Oats : Quiet. La Plata March and April shipments, 14s 7-i,d. Chicago Wheat : May, 110 cents to 111;, cents. —Butter and Cheese.— Butter : A gnod demand for colonial. Arrivals are well cleared. Choicest Anstralnai salted and unsalted, 106s to 108s; secondary, 100s to 104s: New Zealand, 110s (a few at 112s) ; secondary. 102s to 108s; Danish, 126s to 1275. Cheese: Dull. Now Zealand, colored 545, while. 555. —Metals.— Copper : Spot, £6O 8s 9d: three months, £6l lis s<l; electrolytic, £6l 10s. Tin: Spot, £ls2* 15s; three months, £154. Lead, £l3 10s. Pig iron, 51s 3d. Tin Plate : I.C. charcoal, 14s 9d. —Sugar.— Steady. German. 12s 3d ; first marks, 14s 2d. -Wool.— The Bradford wool market is brisk. Spot quotations : Common sixties, 26J,d ; super, 27J,d; futures are unchanged. —Frozen Moat.— (Received December 27, at 9.15 a.m.) Sheep : Canterbury (nominal), light 4-£ d, heavy 4d ; beef, River Plate hinds 3 l-16d. Al other meat unchanged. —Cotton.— Cotton : 8 8-100 d. THE COPPER SUPPLY. Press Association—Uy Telegraph— Copyright, LONDON, December 26. (Received December 27, at 9.15 a.m.) It is reported and generally believed that the principal American copper mines are reducing the output.

Dee. 17. Dec. 24. New South Wales 4\s . 107 107 New South Wales 3A's . 99 S9 Xew South Wales 3's 86 86 Victorian 4's 102 102 Victoria 3i/s 97.', 97J. A'ictoria 5's 85' 85 Queensland 4's 102.',102 £ Queensland 3J_'s 96J 96,5 Queensland ?'s 84.1 84i South Australiui 3J_'s 97; 07 i South Australia 3's 83.', 85i New Zealand 4's ... . 105| 1054 Xew Zealand 3!/s ... . .; ... 98 98" New Zetland 3's ... . 86 86i Ta.sma.iian. 3j's 96J 96^ Tasniiinian 3's 87g 873 West Australian 3i/s 98-; 08j West Australian 3's ... . 88 88- 1