COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 15

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS.

LONDON, March U. j The quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 3,135,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,200,000. ■Share quotations. — Banks : Australasia, £6S ss; New South Wales, £40; Union, ' £35 ; National of New Zealand, £2 15s. Stock quotations: New Zealand 4 per cent, guaranteed stock, £102; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's 4- per cent. prior lien debentures, £93. Lead: The imports for the month are 10,076 tons, and the exports 3447 tons. . At the tallow sales 543 casks' were offered and 64 sold. Prices remain unchanged. (Received March 15, at 10.40 p.m.) The American visible supply of wheat is estimated at 83,935,000 bushels. March 16. The Bank of England returns show the reserve to be £24,446,000; coin and bullion, £33,948,000 ; percentage of reserve to liabilities, 38.32. The notes in circulation total £28,187,000; public deposits, £15,226,000 ; other deposits, £48,391,000; Government securities, £17,197,000 ; and other securities, £40,492,000. Three months' bills are discounted at 4 per cent. Consols, £101 ss. Quotations for colonial Government stocks are subjoined, compared with those ruling at the close of last week : — March 9. March 16. New South Wales 4's .. 11GJ 116£ New South Wales 3A's .. 104J 104^ New South Wales 3's"(ex in.) 99i 99J Victoria 4's 111J 111 Victoria 34' a 104^ 104| South Australia 3£'s .. .. 106| 107 South Australia 3's .. .. E6J 97 Quean3land 4's 112 ' 111 Queensland 3J's 105 105 l\ew Zealand 4's 312 112 , Ivew Zealand 3 J's .. .. 306 106£ New Zealand 3's (ex interest) 96£ 96 jWeatralia 33/ s 104 1 , 104-i !37asniania 3J's IQS~ 105" Copper, £77 10s. .Tin. — The market is hardening. Spot, ?B144 ; three months, £142 10s. - Iron, 70s 7d. Lead, £16jL2s 6d. Sugar. — The market is firmer. German, ICs; Java, 12s 3d.

The Bradford wool market is improving. Common sixties, 27^-d ; supers, 28£ d. Wool is generally firm and hardening. Americans are buying crossbreds freely. The sales close on the 24th. The wheat markets are quiet but steady. A Victorian cargo now loading was sold at 295 ; South Australian February and March shipments, 29s 3d ; parcels, 295. The butter market is stagnant, and there are .no buyers. Prices are merely nominal. Danish, 102s to 104s. Cheese is firm, and prices are unchanged. March 18. Frozen mutton: Crossbred wethers and maiden ewes— Canterbury, 3|d ; Dunedin and Southland, 3 5-16 d; North Island, 3id. Lamb : Prime Canterbury, s|d ; fair average, including Dunedin, Southland, Wellington, and secondary Canterbury, 4|d. River plate crossbred or merino wethers — Heavy, 3^d; light, 3|d. Hemp: The market is quiet. Wellington January and March shipments, £32. Pearl-shell: .There is a. good sivpply and an active demand. Good heavy is rather dearer.- Medium and poor show a decline of from 5s to 10s.