The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-04 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

Wolverhampton, Wednesday. 7

There wet a steady business -tone at the market
to-day, and thr, signs of a gradual improvement in
the tittish,d inn trade were more hopeful Various
mannfactorers have received an increase of orders,
and inquiries indicates sa.tisfactary hysincns arising
from the ensui,,g quart rly meetiors. The principal
trade recorded is with the home buyer-, although
foreign houses appear anxious to conclude much
better bargains than have been known during the
last few months. The demand for unmarked bars
aid second quality sheets appears to be more satis-
factory thin that in any other department. Hoops
and girder plates ara in modera'e request. The
sheet makers are receiving more inquiries from the
galvanisers, and the prices are dearer by about 5s
per ton than those which ruled in Auscust.
Anicanst the largest buyers just now are the
London and Liverpool consumers. In pig iron the
dealings relate chiefly to the second qualities, ruling
from 40 to 4.5 s per ton. Local mak vs have not,
however, secured any very large parcels, the best
lines having gone to the Perbyshire and Northamp-
tonshire agents, and they cat.not be executed before
the end of the year. in some cases the agents are
prohibited from selling any more iron for the next
week or so. Notwithstanding the strike among
the colliers, there is an abundant supply of coal,
but prices do not indicate any improvement at
present.

B/RMINGRAN, THURSDAY,

The iron trade is in a healtl and more promis-
ing position at the c'ose of the qu titer than at its
commencement. and indiations seem to point to a
fairly active quarter:y meeting next week. Ti.ere
wore plenty of inquiri-s this aternoon for different
classes of iron, though the negotiations wvre in
most instances left open 11l the qusrterly meting.
Buyers were retract +nt to ccaicede the enhanced
prices a.ked by producers, ant preferred to hold
over their contracts for the week, though their po.
sition is not likely to be improved by the delay.
Pig iron makers and manufacturers of finished iron
quoted prices firmly, and declined to in ,ke any
abatements from the current rates, because they
seemed sanguine of a continuation of the upward
movement. For the sam:. ressati they refuel to
accept contracts for ddi Yeti! s more than a month
ahead. Judging frt.m the combination among
sellers it is likely that pt lees id be stronger rather
than weaker at the quarterly meeting, thnugh
standard iron will p! obnbly rtmain unalterea.
Sheet manufactan.rs ale fairly wit booked for-
ward into the ensuing quarter, and the minimum
price of singles to-day was firm at £7 a ton de-
livered in the district. Unmarked bars were ir-
regular in value, varying from 103 for inferior
qualities to £6 53 for medium descriptions, ordinary
merchant bars realising from £5 15s to £6. ['here
were some speculative sales of pig iron, chiefly of
foreign brands, hut the consruptive dem.ind was
small, most consatners having bought fairly of late.
The coal trade is disorganised by the strike, and
the anticipated advance in coal on the Ist inst. has
not taken place in consequence, though some firms
are realising mote money.