The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-31 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, May 30.—There has been rather
more business to-day in yarns at higher prices, sales
having taken place at id. to d. per lb. advance on
Tuesday's rates. Spinners in some cases have asked
a rather more considerable advance than this, but
it has checked business. There would evidently
have been a very considerable business had spinners
been more moderate, but still the sales have been
of fair extent. There have been purchases for all
markets, but the chief business has been for India.
In cloth, also, we have an improvement since Tues-
day, and a slight advance of price upon all descrip-
tions. The chief business in cloths, like that in
yarns, has been for India, and is due to the im-
proved account recently to hand from that quarter.
The firmness of the Liverpool cotton market has, no
doubt, had the effect of inducing sellers to adhere
more firmly to their quotations, and of bringing
orders upon the market which might otherwise
have been held back. Compared with what we have
had doing for some weeks past, the business effected
to-day has been rather considerable.

LEEDS, 30th.—The Leeds Chamber of Commerce
report as follows of the staple trades of that town
and district :—" Woollen Trade.--The business done
in the warehouses during the last month has been
very limited, especially during the latter part, and
the spring trade may now be considered as nearly
over. The mills in the surrounding district are,
however, better employed than for some time past,
having a fair quantity of orders for the autumn
trade. The export houses are also doing a fair
business, and during the past few weeks are said
to have received considerable orders. Several Ame-
rican buyers have been over, and have been buying
pretty freely. The demand for woollen cops is good.
Wool.—Since the last report the prevailing shark°.
teristic of the market has been one of great dullness,
the only considerable demand having been for wools
suitable for army and navy cloths. During the last
three weeks the London wool sales have been in
progress ; on Port Philip wools a decline of ld to
2d per lb. has been established, while most other
descriptions of colonial wool remain much the same
as in March. A large quantity has been bought 'for
export. English long deep wools have given way
2d per lb., and at this reduction prices are by no
means firm, the tendency being still in fervour of
buyers. In half-bred and Down wools there has not
been so much alteration, but in these prices have also
ruled in favour of the buyer. Brokres, soils, and skin
wools have maintained their prices, and lower sorts
have even been higher, with a good demand. Flax and
Linen Yarns.—A fair amount of business is doing
in flax, tow, and hemp. Flax of most descriptions
is firm in price, and English sorts have been and
still continue in good demand. New Riga is arriv-
ing, but it is said that the quality is not equal to
that of last year. Good clean tows have been scarce.
and dear; common tows have been more plentiful.,
and the demand for them is not so active. Gr,'eu
hemps have been much sought after. In yarr,s the
trade has been less lively ; the spinners cP;ntinue to
work full time without increasing the;:r stocks, but
have few orders beforehand. P'iices are rather
easier, especially for low tow s, and spinners com-
plain that the prices of t.llO 'raw material are too high
to leave a profit on Yarna. The expectation generally
entertained, that 'ne high price and scarcity of cot-
ton would, I.ltve a favourable effect on the demand.
for I,',:aep yarns, does not seem as yet to have been
tealited. Iron, Machine, and Engineer Tool Trade
—The demand for merchants' iron has decidedly
improved, and the makers are full of orders, and
this is especially the case with the makers of better
qualities. The general tone of the iron trade here
may be considered good. The machine trade con•
tinues in a languid state, little new machinery being
wanted in the generally depressed state of trade.
The engineer toolmakers keep their hands working
full time, and the demand is about equal to the
production. The locomotive makers are very busy,
and have a good supply of orders on hand. The
cut-nail trade is very quiet, especially for
exp ort.
Leather—The trade during the past month
has
shown more activity than during April. A quiet,
steady trade has been done, prices remaining un-
altered. The fancy leather trade has also much
improved, and the manufacturers are busy with
orders both for home and export."