The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-05 00:00:00

STATE OF ?RADE.

MANCHESTER, Tues lay, M,ty 4.—So little busi-
ness has been going on since Friday last, that the
downward tendency of prices still continues, and
this market to-day has been dull, if not depressed.
Still prices give way slowly, and producers are
extremely dogged and stubborn about making
further concessions,. The consequence is that
transactions are few, and the amount of busini si
done very limited indeed. Buyers have more choice
of most descriptions of yarn and cloth afforded
them, but cotton, especially the better qualities, has
given way so little (in fact it is more questionable
whether such kinds are not really dearer) that
spinners cannot give way further, unless forced to
do so through sheer necessity. On Saturday, as is
frequently the case on that day, sellers declined
some offers, hoping for an improved demand in the
beginning of the week. This, however, has not
been the case, and to .day the demand is quite as
languid as it was yesterday.
lIUDDEIISFIELD, Tuesday.—There has been a fair
attendance of buyers here to-day chiefly represen-
tatives of Irish and country houses. One or two
London buyers have also been present, but these
have almost confined their attention to job lots.
Regular market goods of all kinds at fair prices
continue very slow of sale. Manufacturers of first-
class fancy trouserings and coatings, however, for
the most part keep well employed, and their mills
are likely to be kept running with orders fur
some time to come. The shipping trade con-
tinues dull in all branches, and the demand for
unions and cheap woollen fabries is still very limited.
There have been several failures here of late in the
spinning trade to considerable amounts. There has
only been a quiet business doing through the week
in the local wool trade.

MIDDLESBOROUGH, Tuesday.--Comparatively
little business has been transacted at the ironmas-
ters' meeting here this morning. Deliveries of pig
iron are going on freely, both coastwise and foreign.
The local demand for foreign purposes is also good
and improving, the rail mills and foundries being
well employed. Makers of pig iron are mostly well
sold. Prices are—No. 1, 495. ; No. 3, 455. ; 6d. ;
No. 4, 445. 6d. net cash. Stocks in makers' hands
and in the warrant stores are decreasing, especially
the latter. The arrangement concluded at Darling-
ton on Saturday, by which wages have been set-
tled in the finished iron trade for a period of eight
months, at an advance of 5 p••r cent., has given
general satisfactioo and confidence to the trade.
Bar iron remains dud. Plates and angles are in
fair demand.

NorrlNGuAat, Tuesday.—With a moderate at-
tendance on 'Change this morning the demand
mild for yarns was below the average. Quotations
were not materially altered, but the inquiry was
languid, and the tone of the market was decidedly
unfavourable to s:.llers. Fine yarns in go,,d quali-
ties remain steady. The demainl for silk is rather
dull. Good Italian finds buyers, and there
is a moderate quantity of spun selling, but there is
comparatively little doing in other kinds. Orders
for plain nets are of a limited character, and prices,
though steady, are less firm. Fancy lace goods
are in fair request for the home trade, and in the
tnanufacturing and finishing departments most
hands arc fully employed.