THE LONDON MARKETS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13936, 19 December 1905, Page 5

THE LONDON MARKETS.

[From Our Corresrondenx.j LONDON, November 11. WOOL. There is no change to report in the situation as regards the raw material. In Bradford, however, a slightly easier tendency is manifest, cross-bred tops being generally quoted lower, though merino about maintains its position. Business, however, is active, and it seems likely that the weaker feeling is the result of “bear” tactics, with the object, of depressing prices in Australasia. From America very satisfactory reports continue to be received, but the disturbed state of affairs in Russia is adversely affecting the Continental trade, as well as curtailing export business, particularly in yarns and tops. SHEEPSKINS. The periodical sales of Australasian sheepskins were held yesterday and today, before a large attendance of buyers. The supply was well up to the average, and the demand was strong. The catalogues were practically cleared. Morinoes of all growths may be quoted from par to Jd per lb dearer. Australian cross-bred combing wools also gained Jd to Jd per lb, whilst New Zealand descriptions appreciated Jd to •|d per lb. Ail short wools and shorn made- extreme rates. Of 3241 bales bffered, 3129 bales sold as follows:—In the grease—merino, long -wool BJd to 10|d, short and medium 7Jd to 9fd, lambs 8d to lOJd; cross-bred and coarse, long wool B|d to 10|d, short and medium 7d to 9ad, lambs 7fd to IOJ-d; short skins 7Jd to 83d .per lb. GRAIN. Owing to political disturbances in Russia, tbe wheat market has been in a somewhat unsettled state.! It appeared at one time as if shipments from that country would cease altogether, but tbe outlook at the moment is more hopeful. On the whole,- a fair business has been passing, at prices which favour sellers. There have been few transactions in Australian for arrival. 'Recently'a cargo of South. Australian for prompt shipment, per Gundrum, sold at 34s 5d not, per 4801 b, and to-day’s value for Nov-ember-De-cember shipment is 33s 9d per 4801 b c.i.f. As regards the new crop, there is more disposition to s&U, but buyers are scarce;' 33s would buy December January shipment, and 3£s 9d per 4801 b c.i.f. would probably he accepted for January-February bill-of-lading. The oat market has been somewhat irregular, prices which were advancing at one time giving way, owing to forced sales, but recently values have improved, and now mark an appreciation of from 2s. to 3s per quarter Beans and peas are firmly held at about Is per quarter advance. Current quotations Australian-wheat, 33s 9d to 34s per 4961 b. New Zealand wheat, longberried 31s to 325, shortberried 30s 6d to 31s 6d per 4961 b. New Zealand barley, 25s to 30s per 44Slb. New Zealand oats, Sparrowbills and Gartons,. 22s to 235, do finest 23s to 24s per 3841 b ; Danish 19s 6d to 20s per 3201 b. New Zealand beans (about f.a.q.) 33s to 36s per 5041 b. ■ • New Zealand peas, Maple S6s to 40s, Blue 31s to 35s per 50dlb. Australian flonr 24s to 25s per 380 lb. COCKSFOOT. The market generally is quiet,* and the business passing has been within small compass. Prices tend in buyers’ favour, and as buying on a c.i.f. basis will cease about the end of the present month it hardly seems probable that .values will now advance. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company quote : —l7lb medium 545, 16i0 medium 50s to 51s per cwt, ex warehouse, 171 b medium 51s 6d to 525, 16jo medium 49s to 49s 6d per cwt c.i.f. NEW ZEALAND HEMP. A fair amount of business has been passing, and, in sympathy with the firmness in the Manila market, prices have appreciated about 15s per ton. Latterly a weaker feeling has become apparent, and sales at tho advance are very difficult to effect. . Current quotations : Good fair, spot and in dock, £3O 10s to £3O 15s; October-Decembor, £3l 5s to £3l 10s; January-March, £3l to £3l ss; fair, October-Docember, £29 6s to £29 10s; tow, £lO per ton c.i.f. Manila £4l, sisal £34 per ton. FROZEN MEAT. , The market for all descriptions of mutton has.been extremely quiet, and values for New Zealand sheep have ruled in buyers’ favour, medium-weight carcases being Jd per lb, and heavier ■descriptions -Jd to Jd per lb lower. Australian, which are now coming to hand in larger quantities, are being more inquired for, sheep ranging from 181 b to 521 b attracting most attention, the cold weather experienced during tho earlier part of the period under review further curtailed the already existing poor demand for lamb, and prices for Now Zealand dropped to the extent of Jd per lb, carcases averaging 321 b not being worth more than f.Jd, and 391 b and over 3:1 <1 to 4d per lb. ’ A few Australian lambs have heal*

sold off the hooks at prices ranging from 3|d to 4d per lb, according •to weight and quality. At the close, while there is no change .in values, there is a firmer tendency. The position as regards beef continues much about the same. River Plate chilled and frozogi have been plentiful and cheap, to-day’s prices being, for chilled, hinds 3Jd to 'Sid, fores 2Jd to 2|d; frozen, hinds 2Jd to 3d, fores 2Jd to 2fd per lb, ex market. New Zealand is in small supply, the Tew quarters sold realising late rates. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company quote;— Canterbury sheep 3Jd to 3Jd, North Island 3Jd to 3Jd, ewes 3d to 3Jd, Australian 2|d to 3Jd, River Plate 3d to 3Jd ; Canterbury lamb 3Jd to 4Jd, Australian 3|-d to 4d; Nelv Zealand beef, hinds 3id to 3fd, fores 2Jd to 2Jd per lb. FROZEN RABBITS. ■ The demand is not active, but holders are endeavouring to advance prices, without muclj success. Current rates for New Zealand are;—Large , 15s. to 16s, young 13s, small 10s 6d per crate of twenty-four. - TALLOW. ’ There have been three public-sales since my last advice, and, with a good general demand, prices have advanced 3s per curt for finest- mutton, and all edible qualities, and Is per curt for the lower sorts. Recently, holders of parcels for shipment and near at hand have shown some anxiety to sell, and, in consequence, the lower descriptions were somewhat difficult cf sale at the auctions held on November 8. - and frequently, to effect a clearance, (xL per curt less money was' accepted," but the better sorts maintained their position. Prices are thought in many quarters to bo too high, but although the market shows some signs of weakness, I hardly think it likely, in,view.of the,continued smallness ■of - stocks, that values willrecede to any considerable extent in t-He near future. In Australasian for arrival a fair business has been passing at 26s 9d per curt c.i.f. for, good-coloured mixed, whilst for parcels near at hand more money has been paid. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company quotes: Finest mutton 33s to 34s 6d, fair to good 30s rto 3lis, edible beef 30s to 31s, fair to good! 28s to xnixed sorts 25s 6d to 28e 6d per curt. BUTTER. The market, after remaining very firm for the greater part of the three weeks under review, is now weaker by fully 2s per curt. The demand for'Australian has slackened, with the result that stocks are- going into consumption slowly, provincial buyers for the most part not yet giving their attention to colonial.-- , CHEESE. _■ : ■y " a slow market, with prices easy, a firmer feeling now prevails, and prices are higher, ruling at 57s to 58 a per cwt, while present indications point to the probability of 60s being touched in the near future. RABBITSKINS. At auction on November 2 and" 3, 3027 bales Australian and New Zealand were offered and all sold. The demand was extremely good throughout, and values, which opened firm at former rates, steadily rose as sales progressed, so that on tho average prices cksed fully Id per lb dearer, in spite of, heavy offerings. New Zealand collections included a better proportion of full-season," skins, which sold readily at about Id per lb advance. Fair to good winter and out-going sorts were fully Id per lb, and medium qualities Id to IJd per lb dearer, while low grades, fleshy and suckers advanced IJd to 2d per lb. Black and silvery, for furriers’ use, sold at extreme values, and may he quoted about 2d,- per lb dearer. Fawn also show 2d per lb gain.. ■ Gutters’ qualities sold at relative rates. Good season skins, averaging IRb to 2Jib per dozen, sold at Is IOJd to 2s IJd per lb, fait to good Is 7d to Is lOJd; medium, IJlb to If lb. Is Id to Is Sjd per lb; common and low 5d to Is 2d per lb: small and suckers 6d to 11 Jd; black and silver grey Is to >3s 7d per lb ; fawn Is Id to Is 5d per lb.