COMMERCIAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 109, 9 May 1908, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

BANK OF ENGLAND KETUEN

WHEAT AND BUTTER MARKETS

[I»EESS ASSOCIATION.]

LONDON, May 8. The Bank of England return for the week ended "Wednesday, May 6, is as follows:—Gold coin £35,932,000; reserve £27,195,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities 50.92;. notes in circulation £28,725,000; public de£8,998.000; other deposits £44,----365,000; Government securities £14,----315,000; other securities £29,663,000. The Bank rate of discount is 3 per cent; the market rate for best three months' bills in London 2 7-16, Pans 2f," Berlin 4|. Consols £85 12s 6d. New South Wales 4 per cents. £108 15s, 3i per cents. £99 ss, 3 per cents. £87 15s; Queensland 4 per cents. £106, 3£ per cents. £99 7s 6d, 3 per cents. £88 17s 6d; New Zealand 3 per cents. £88; Tasmania 3£ per cents. £100, 3 per cents. £89; "West Australia 34 per cents. £98 10s, 3 per cents. £87; others are unchanged. The wheat trade continues to improve on the decreased quantity afloat and firmer markets in .America. Cargoes are firmly held. 37s 6d is asked for a Victorian January shipment, 38s for a South Australian March shipment (steamer), 37s 9d for steamer parcels of April-May shipment. There is an improved demand for Australian on spot at 38s 6d to 39s 6d.

For ilour there is more inquiry. Australian is quoted at 27s 6d to 28s 6d in London, while 28s is asked for Glasgow May shipment. Butter: Colonial is slightly easier at 2s cheaper, owing to warmer weather and fair arrivals. Siberian is in good demand. Secondary Australian 102s to 104s. Copper, spot £57 per ton, three months £57 15s; tin, spot £139 ss, three months £139; lead £13; spelter £20 "15s; pig-iron 51s lOd; silver 24 3-16 d per o. Sugar: German 11s Bd, first marks 13s 4d. ■■■■■■'.. Bradford tops are quiet, and prices are unchanged. / \

BRITISH TRADE FIGURES

SHEEPSKIN SALES

LONDON, May 8. The British imports for April decreased by £9,682,792: the exports decreased by £2,711,528, and the reexports decreased by . £2,896,670, compared with the previous April. At the sheepskin sales.sooo Australian and 1200 South American were offered. There was brisk bidding, and the bulk were sold. Compared with the March sales merino combings declined five farthings; clothings "2s 2d to 3s 4d; halfbreds Id; medium crossbreds Id to l|d, coarse