The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

MARKET&

HAlLDWAlDL—lltaurNcilsit, Fn. 115.—The reports
in reference to the state of trade in this town are • little
inure favourable this week. The orders on Recount of the
home trade have conic in moee freely, and the manufac-
turers ore somewhat better engaged. There is, however,
great room for improvement in many branches. In CAI
foreign department matters remain in touch the same state
in which they have been during the last inenth ; the mer-
chants continue to give out orders for email quantities of
goods, but there is no approach to activity, and a very
great drawback is the cumplvto stagnation which prevails
in the Americau trades Tile continental trade gt uersily
slack ; on account of Anttnilia n little more is being done.
A return just made of the number of furnaces at work in
the South Staffenbildre awl East Worcestershire district
shows that out of 167 erected there are only 86 in blast ;
at the end of the year 1864$ there were 116 in blast.

COTTON.—LIVERPOOL, FED. 15.—We have had a good
demand to-day and aatroug market, and prices on the spot
are id. per lb. higher than the low sales of yesterday.
In cotton to arrive a large business has been done at id. to
id. per lb. advance in American descriptions. The sales
are 18.000 bales, of which 6,000 are for export and specu-
lation.

COTTON 000D8.—liascuserza, Tn. 15.—prices
attained their highest point in yarn and cloth this week
about Wednesday. Since that day cotton has given way
about id., but cloths, which had followed the advance
without overtaking it, have not declined in the same pro-
portion. While the high prices at the commencement of
the week discouraged buyera and checked operations, we
have now very naturally still lest disposition to operate,
and the business since Wednesday has been of a very
limited character. Buyers bold back, and minifest cau-
tion, because they anticipate more reasonable prices by
waiting, whilst manufacturers are unable to get prices at
which they can go into the cotton market and cover the
orders they may &mpg. Twist (32's) at Pa to 12id. per
lb. on Tuesday, is firmly held by spinners, but does not
find purchasers except from miumfactnrere of India
hidings under order, and they only buy to cover inc-
mediate wants. Wefts for the same cloth are in the same
position. Export earns, such as 40's mule, are in little
demand, as are lti's to 32's twist for China sad the Conti-
nent, and sales could only he f- reed by yielding something
in price. There have been some fair sales during the week of
India mulls and jaccone Ls. but the demand for shirtings is
very languid. Home-trade domestics are in request, and
printing cloths continue in request at full prices, makers
being well eugagod. Long cleat' and T cloths are rather
dull of sale.

' WOOLLEN.—LErns. Fig. 15.—We have to report a
moderate attendance of buyers at the cloth balls this
morning. The out-town houses in addition to the various
L eds firms have been tolerably well represented, and
fair amount of busiaese has been done in spring goods. In
the coloured cloth hall inquiries have born most numerous
for tweeds in the usual shades, and chiefly in the low and
medium qualities of union makes, which continue to hold
the same favouralle position that they have bad from
the commencement of tbo Belson. As many de-
liveries are now being Mal direct from the mills,
of fancy wittiest, more especially among the cotton
warp class, the parcels which have left the market have
not been so large as they otherwise would have been ;
there have nevertheless been some rather animated in-
quiries, and • moderato amount of business has hem done.
Some transactions have also taken place in the all-wool
descriptions of fancies, which, with the continuance of the
present state of the weather, will doubtless improve.
Low union 'lichens have in some instseees changed hands
to a moderate extent, mostly in connexion with the export
trade. The white market has presented a quieter appear-
ance. As hair-lists form the chief article at present in re.
quest in this hall, and not being now in a very animated
,ondition, the transactions have not been an extensive as
we could desire, and a quieter tone bits prevailed. A few
parcels have, however, found purchaser, though at prices
of which the manufacturers complain.

WOOL AND WORSTED.—Besnronn, Fee. 15.—The
improvement in wool lies continued during the past week.
There is a steady demand for all the better sorts of wool,
and their scarcity in the market has the effect of giving a
hardening teudeucy to prises. There is generally kin re-
luctance to purchase, and prices are in favour of the seller.
The extreme prices of last week have been obtained with-
out difficulty daring the week that is past. The improve-
ment is thought by many to he only temporary, and not to
rest upon any solid foundation. Most of the causes of the
long depression still remain, and until these aro removed
• permanent revival cannot be expected. There is, how-
ever, some prospect of a rather better state of things] for
two or three months to come, and the probability is that
other changes in our position by the end of that
time may give greater stability to the improve-
ment A fair business has been done in wonted
yarns. Both single and two-fold
The
have
hem more in request at better rates. The enhanced
priors of wool make it absolutely necessary for the spinner
to demand higher rates, but he finds no improvement in
his position, because the advance which be obtains is not
commensurate with the higher rates of wool. The im-
provement in the piece trade is only slight. Menefee-,
turers, nevertheless, have taken more orders than for some
time past. The shipping houses are rather more active
than they were. There is no revival in the American
trade. The American merchants, though receiving rather
more favourable accounts from beyond the Atlantic,
operate with the greatest caution, and show little, if
any, disposition te anticipate a renewed demand. There
I is rather more business doing in the home warehouses.
Priam have an improving tendency.

CORN.—Csitusut FEB. 15.—There was as average
supply of all kinds of grain at our market this morning.
Wheat sold slowly, at a reduction of 6d. per bushel,
owing to the damp condition. Oats good demand, at
fully last week's rates, meal samples bringing 6d. to Is.
per bushel above our quotations. Barb quiet, and rather
easier to buy. Prices :—Wheat, white, new, 27a. to 10s. ;
red wheat, now, 265. to 27a. 6d. ; barley, new, 14s. 6d. to
15e. 6d. ; potato oats, new, 9s. 9d. to 11s. 6d. per Carlisle
bushel ,• flour, 2s. 7d. to 3a. ; oatmeal, 2s. 2.1. to 2s. 4d. ;
ryemeal and barleymeal, la. 8.1. per stone.
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