The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-05 00:00:00

STATE OF .TILIDE.

MANCHESTER, Jan. 4.—The market for shipping
yarns is strong, and prices arc steadily maintained,
with a fair amount of busim ss offering at very ex-
treme rates. The spinners cf these yarns are now
so deeply under contract that they decline to sell
unless they can obtain full quotations. In other
branches of the market there is less activity. Home
trade yarns are strong, and producers arc asking a
slight advance of prices, which stops business. The
holiday character of last week rather interfered with
the business in cloth, but notwithstanding the small
number of operations prices remained exceedingly
firm. The new year opens with but little show of ac-
tivity, but the high prices of yarn compel manufac-
turers to ask very full reel, and in many cases
to demand advanced prices. To-day we hear of
'hut little business having been done, although a
very general inquiry prevails for nearly all descrip-
tions
of India and China shirtings and other
fabrics, and the general tone of the market is cheer-
ful. For printers, 'T
-cloths, and domestics only a
moderate business is doing, but prices are well
maintained. Messrs. John Slagg and Co. report of
this day's market :—" But little attention was paid
to business during the last week ; prices, however,
were well maintained. The new year opens with
firmness, and today, though the actual operations
are small, we notice a good general inquiry and
very steady rates."

CARDIFF, Jan. 3.—The men employed at the
collieries are now beginning to return from their
holidays, and a larger quantity of coal has during
the last few days been sent down from the
collieries. The supply is still rather below the re-
quirements of shippers, and it is satisfactory to re-
port that a fair demand continues to be experienced
on foreign account. French buyers are taking full
average quantities, and the inquiry from several of
the Spanish markets has increased. Quotations are
well maintained, and if a further advance could be
established it is probable then that a rise in wages
would be granted. In the home coal trade there is
a considerable degree of buoyancy evinced, but the
present mild weather will tend to check the con-
sumption. Coke •is selling freely. Business is
qnieter in the iron trade, but iu the course of a few
weeks it is expected that orders will again be freely
offered. It is expected that an advance in wag• s
will take place in about a month or six weeks from
this date.
LEEDS, 4th.—There has been a better attendance
of buyers in the cloth halls this morning than on
this day se'nnight, and rather more business has
been done. There were some purchases by the re-
presentatives of shipping houses as well as by those
who acted for firms in the home trade. Light-
coloured tweeds, meltons, and spring coatings were
sold to a moderate extent, and the sine may le
said as to plain clothes. In hair lists and white
mediums a late average business was done. Prices
were steady, and the tone of the market was quite
as good as for some time past. The flax trade,
owing to the hcrease in the supply and tl•e conse-
quent reduction in the prices of the raw material,
is rather more active than we lately had to repoft.
ROCLID ALE, 3,l.—We regret that we are unable to

report the slightest improvement in the state of the
woollen trade of this district during the past month.
Purchasers have confined their operations within
the narrowest limits consistent with their absolute
necessities, the demand has proved exceedingly
sluggish even for thiis usually dull period of the year.
In but few instances do we hear that a fair average
business has been transacted. Owing to this state
of things, which in its turn may partly be attributed
to the fact that merchants are engaged in stock-
taking, prices have not been fairly tested ; however,
we consider that values remain unchanged. The
flannel trade generally may be considered to have
been disappointing, and we are therefore by no
means surprised to hear that there is a slight exten-
sion of short-time working. Notwithstanding this
stocks continue to be fully as large as, if not larger
than, at the corresponding period of last year.
Fancy goods continue to be neglected by the home
trade houses, but a few lots have been cleared for
shipping at steady rates. Our manufacturers are
hopeful that the seasonable weather which we have
recently had, though of s'tort duration, will tend
to clear the way somewhat for a bet. er and more
satisfactory position with the commencement of
the new year. The wool market is quiet, but
quotations remain firm, so that at present lower
prices for manufactured goods cannot be antici-
pated.