THE LONDON MARKETS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11530, 17 March 1898, Page 5

THE LONDON MARKETS.

FEbOH Ora. COBEaBPONDEHT.] LONDON, Feb. -4, WOOL, Thetirstiseries of colonial wooLsalerfor , th®- year closed on Feb. 2. The-qimfttlty. offeredat tbe series was 157,300 hales,-as against 234,473 bales at last year’s first series * 19,500 bales were withdrawn or hold over. The active American competition was a feature of the series, and contributed greatly to the advanee of Id to 1-jd per lb upon good merino wool. The competition, however, slackened towards the close of the series. Th® best half-breds and bright, strong cross-breds were at-one period id to Id per lb above December rates, but the coarser Idnds afterwardsdost this improvement. grain, &c. Wheat, both English and foreign, has advanced Is per quarter in tire fortnight, a relapse, ’ owing to weakness of the American markets, having been recovered, owing "to purchases on Continental account. The Argentine production is generally considered to he below expectations. There is no change in New Zealand oats and beans. New Zealand hemp, Lyttelton, is quoted nominally at: <£15.153 for good; the -market is firm. FROZEN HEAT. Light sheep are very scarce, and have madeenhaneed values ; Canterbury3|dto 3|d and to 3fd for very prime parcels. Heavy sheep are difficult to move at 3d to 3£d, and for over-weights, above 70ib, 2|-d to 2f<L Dunedin and Southland, small ,2|d to 3d, large 2|dto 2|d. The market generally is dull, the weather continuing mild, with the exception of a few cold days. A few New Zealand (Wellington) lambs of good quality have averaged 6d,.and best ,Australians.sd to o£d.