COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19136, 2 April 1924, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Ltd.) as follows: Oats.—Very few samples have been offering during the week, but in view of the importation of oats to the North Island, merchants are not keen buyers, and the market has an eaaidr tendency. We quote: A Gartens 4s 2d; B Cartons, 4s per bushel, eacks extra. Wheat.—Fowl wheat is in short supply, and values remain firm, at 5e per bushel for good whole quality. , Potatoes.—Supplies are now in excess of the demand, and values have receded to £7 ton for good tables. Chaff.—Consignments have been heavier, , and the demand, which is from local feeders only, has eased. Prime oaten sheaf is realising up to £7 per ton, sacks extra. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, March 31. The fifteenth series of wool sales has opened. The offerings were of medium and poorer qualities, but this is usual towards the of the season. Competition was active, and prices were equivalent to the closing sales of the last series. IMPERIAL TOBACCO COMPANY. v The twenty-second annual report of the Im- , perial Tobacco Company (of Great Britain and Ireland), Ltd., issued in February, show* a net trading profit for 12 months ended October 31, 1923, amounting to £7,467,925 12s lOd. After adding transfer and other fees, etc., the total profits available for distribution amount to £7,364,091 18s lid. Dividends on various classes of scares, including an interim dividend of j 7 per cent, on ordinary shares, were paid, resulting in a balance of £4,415,264 10s 3d, out of which the directors propose to pay a final dividend of 8 per cenv. for the year on ordinary shares, and a bonus on the same at Is per share (both free of income tax), leaving a balance to be carried forward of £521,543 18s Id. CANTERBURY MARKETS. (Put Uh‘T<co Pnasa Absociatioh.l CHRISTCHURCH, April 1. There is little fresh to record in the' markets. Potatoes are firmer for prompt delivery by about 5s a ton. Forward business is also a shade stronger. Very few potatoes • are offering, which is responsible* for the firming for prompt delivery, as potatoes have to b« found to cover forward sales. Values on trucks for prompt delivery are from £5 5a to £5 10s. Chaff is also a shade firmer for the same reasons as apply to potatoes. Up to £7 10s, f.0.b., a.i., has been paid. Good chaff in Melbourne last week was selling at £4 15s to £5 10s per ton. Peas continue very weak. There ie no alteration in the wheat market. WAI( LOAN CONVERSION. Affeb to bondholders. Press Association —Bv Tetegrapfa—Copyright LONDON, March 31. The Government is offering the holders -f 5 per cent. War Loan Box ds to convert their holdings into the new 4J per cent, issue, redeemable in 1938-44. The terms are £lO3 of new stock for every £IOO of the old. It is intended in the first place to convert up to £2oo,ooo,ooo.—Reuter. LONDON WOOL SALES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, April 1. (Received April 1, at 9.45 p.tn.) At the wool sales there was a miscellaneous selection. Prices were steady. The Bradford tops market is very quiet for merinos, and there is less business in crossbreds.—A. and N.Z. Cable, FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES. Press Association —By TeWraph—Copyright LONDON, April 1. (Received April 1, at 9.45 p.m.) The exchange rates are as follows: Par. Mar. 27 Apt. 1. Paris, fr. to £1 25.225 78.55 77.80 Brussels, fr. to £1 ... 25.225 99.95 02.00 Christiania, fcr. to £1 ... 18.159 31.57 31.80 Copenhagen, fcr. to £1 ... 18.159 27.20 26.50 Stockholm, kr. to £1 ... 18.159 16.25 16.28 New York, del. to £1 ... 4.86 4.30$ 4.30$ Montreal, del. to £1 ... 4.86 4.40$ 4.40$ Pome, lire to £1 22.23 $ 99$ 98 Hongkong, rlol. to £1 ... • 28$ 23J Yokohama, si to yen ... 21.5 23$ 33J Calcutta, st. to rpc 10 to gold £1 16f 16 11-16 * Determined by price of silver. The exchange rate on Berlin (par 20.25 marks to the pound sterling is 19 to 20 billions.—A. ami N.Z. Cable. A London cablegram stales that Waihi shares are quoted at 30s Id (buyers) and 31s 3d (sellers). LONDON -METAL MARKET. Press Association—Bv Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 31. (Received April 1, at 7.20 p.m.) Copper.—Spot, £64 6a 3d; forward, £65 3tt Bd Lead.—©pot, £33 ss; forward, £34 10s. Spelter.—Spot,' £33 10s; forward, £33 6s 3d. Tin.—Spot, £254 2s 6d; forward, £253 2s 6d. Silver, 33 5-16 d per ounce.—A. and N.Z. Cable.