The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-30 00:00:00

AST A TE OF 7 RADE.

MANCHESTER, Thursday, April 29.—Beyond the
fact that buyers have rather more choice in both
cloth and yarn than they had a few days since, no
alteration in the market has taken place since Tues-
day. A few inquiries have been made for India
and China shirtings, but in order to sell producers
have had to submit to prices which they declined a
week since.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.—The reports brought
to Birmingham to-day from the various ironworks
were even less satisfactory than those of last week.
On most hands the proprietors of mills and forges
are getting short of orders in nearly every depart-
ment. The foreign trade has not yet revived, and
sales on home account are for small lots. Masters are
ready to accept orders at prices lower than they have
quoted for many years, but makers will not be s im-
u'ated. In the pig iron department, where old
contracts have run out, vendors experience diffi-
culty in inducing consumers to give fresh orders.
There were some very trifling sales to-day. Alike
at the ironworks and the collieries there is a super -
abundance of labour. Hardwares are unchanged.
Most of the railway works have enough to d ), and
so.ne of the tin-plate workers and jaranners are
fairly off; but at the great foundries, and at the
bridge and girder making establishments, there is
hardly anything doing, except in the machinery
departments, which are moderately engaged.
BRADFORD, Thursday.—The wool market con-
tinues very quiet. The purchases made are mostly
in the better classes of lustre wool, for which
staplers are able to command full rates. The busi-
ness done in middle and inferior sorts is about as
meagre as it has been forsome timepast, and it is only
where a concession in price is yielded that sales can
be effected. 'I he presen t genial weather promising to
accelerate the time of clip has also the effect in some
measure of creating apathy on the part of con-
sumers. There is little change in yarns. A steady
business continues to be done on home account.
The foreign trade remains stagnant. The change
in fashion on the continent, and the introduc-
tion there of yarns spun from German wool
have greatly interfered with the bulk of the
trade hitherto done for that quarter in this mar-
ket, and especially in 30's single. The business
now doing in twofold yarns is very unimportant.
Genappe yarns are also exceedingly quiet, and
carded yarns are not in much request. Stocks in
the hands of some spinners are on the increase,
especially in middle sorts and 30's single. In the
piece market, several foreign buyers have been pre-
sent, and have occasionally placed orders for the
autumn trade. The home merchants are satis-
fying their requirements by picking up. from
stock odd lots of light fancy and plain
soods suitable for the season, but they
do not place any important orders for the autumn
trade. The continental business continues small.
Few orders are placed for America. On the whole,
a better feeling prevails, and manufacturers might
in many cases get orders, if they were in a position
to accept the low offers made by merchants. Busi-
❑ess, though only small, is healthy. Prices in both
yarns and pieces are not much changed.