COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13935, 18 December 1905, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

■United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 15. The weekly returns of the Ba.nl: of England show the stock of gold coin, and bullion to be £30,949,000, reserve £22,197,000, proportion of reserve to liabilities 40.10, notes in circulation £28,803,000, public deposits £6,377,000, other deposits £48,866,000, Government securities £17,239,000, other £33,679,000. Three months’ bills are discounted at 3§ per cent. Consols are quoted at 89J.

Colonial Securities.—-New South "Wales 3J per cent inscribed stock is quoted at 99J; Queensland 4 per cent 105; South Australian 3J per cent 99£, 3 pier cent 88J; Tasmanian 3J per cent 98i- Other stocks are unchanged. Wheat.—Smaller deliveries and the decreasing visible supply in America have strengthened the markets. Despite heavy shipments, the Continental markets are steady. Germany is importing largely, and there is an improving demand for cargoes of .. new crop Australian, December-January shipment, which are held for 32s 3d and 32s 6d per quarter. Australian ,on spot is almost exhausted, and is worth 35s per quarter.,, New Zealand is unchanged. Flour is dull; London quotation 24s 3d to 24s 6d, Glasgow 25s to 25s 9d. Parcels of January-Febru-ary shipment are offered at 23s 3d. Freights are active; Victoria to the United Kingdom and Continent are fixed at 22s 9d, New South Wales 21s 3d to 21s 6d.

Butter.—The market is very firm, with a strong demand} owing to small supplies and the Cufic’s late delivery. Choicest New Zealand is quoted at 114 s to 116 s per cwt, Australian 110 s to 114 s. The Paparoa’s cargo was excellent, and all was cleared. Prices for Danish are unchanged. Cheese.—The market is firm; Canadian 62s to 63s per cwt, New Zealand 60s to 61s.

Copper.—On spot £BO 15s per ton, three months’ £BO per ton. Tin.—On spot £165 15s per ton, three months’ £164 10s per ton. Iron.—£2 13s 3d per ton. Lead.—£l7 Is 3d per ton. Spelter.—£2B 12s 6d per ton. Silver.—2s 6 5-16 d per oz. Sugar.—Granulated first marks 10s Id, German 8s 3d. f Wool.—The Bradford wool market is flat; forties 15|d, forty-sixes 17Jd, common sixties 24-Jd, super 251 d. SHIPPING. LONDON, December 15. Sailed—Ayrshire, for Auckland. Messrs Dalgety and Company, Limited, have received the following cable message from their London office, under date December 14:—“The butter market is firm. The Copenhagen official quotation is unchanged. We expect no immediate change in prices. The total imports into the United Kingdom for the week ending December 9 amounted to 76,000 cwt, as compared with 87,000 cwt for the same period of Last year.”