The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-03 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Jan. 2.—We have hada very strong
market for all kinds of shipping yarns, which have
continued to exhibit throughout the day a gradually
hardening tendency in price. Many orders have
been given out for the Continent which had been
held in abeyance, and the market closes strong. In
home trade yarns the market also has been firm,
with a steady business. In cloth the year opens
with firmness in all descriptions of goods. Manufac-
turers as well as spinners are generally engaged for
some weeks forward, and although the holydays arc
scarcely over, and we can hardly yet say that busi-
ness is resumed, there is an evident tendency to
higher rates. The business done in cloth to-day has
been small. The past year has been one of great
fluctuations in price, and ruinous losses have
been sustained by many persons connected with the
different branches of the cotton trrde. Buyers un-
der such circumstances have naturally become cau-
tious, and are indisposed to follow the present high
prices. Messrs. John Slagg and Co. report of this
day's cloth market :

" Business has hardly yet been fairly resumed,
and but little is proposed. Manufacturers are very
steady in their demands, and the year opens with
a firm, if not advancing, tendency. To-day buyers
appear indisposed to operate except for very small
quantities, and we close *ith but few transactions."
CARDIFF, Ist.—Now that the Christmas holydays
are over, the works of the district have resumed
their former activity, and the men are fully em-
ployed. The steam coal trade is healthy, and orders
on foreign account come to hand more regularly
and freely. There is a moderate trade with the
West Indies, and the mail packet coaling stations
are taking an average quantity. The demand for
steam from the metropolitan markets is tolerably
good, and increased quantities are sent by rail to
Birkenhead for shipment. Colliery proprietors an-
ticipate a brisker trade towards spring, and are
making preparations accordingly. In house coal
the demand is not so active as was expected, and so
long as the.present comparatively mild weather con-
tinues the consumption will keep down. The iron
trade is somewhat firmer, and the decision of the
preliminary meeting of mastersnot to interfere with
present quotations has induced buyers to come for-
ward with their orders. Pig iron continues de-
cideily firm.
LEEDS, 2d.--The attendance in the cloth halls to-
day was rather better than on this day week, but
buyers operated cautiously, and at the close of the
market the aggregate amount of cloth which had
changed hands was found not to be quite to an ave-
rage extent. Ordinary plain goods in medium
qualities were the most saleable, and these, with
tweeds and plain and fancy meltons, formed the
bulk of the purchases. The market in other re-
spects was satisfactory, it being a general impres-
sion that the balance of the year's accounts will
turn out well as to both the home and the export
trading in the varied woollen fabrics manufactured
in this and the surrounding districts, and that the
prospects for the spring demand are good. The
manufacturers are well employed, but a few of the
dressing mills are not quite so busy as we lately
had to report. Dyers are mostly in full work, and,
indeed, there are not many of the really skilled
adults in any branch of the woollen cloth manufac-
ture out of employ. Prices of wool, yarns, and
cloths are firm.
NOTTINGHAM 2d.—There was not much busi-
ness transacted in lace yarns at our Exchange-hall
to-day ; prices, however, remained very firm, with
a tendency to harden. For hosiery yarns previous
rates were fully sustained. Silks were quite as
dear, with an upward tendency. For brown nets
and prices were much
tthheersea ae s
alistltalestowr
eneoki.nquiry,

ROCHDALE, Ist. —The flannel-market to-day
was almost a blank because of the customary cele-
bration of New Year's Day. Business was so
limited as to be almost of a retail character, and it
was confined to a few hand-to-mouth purchasers,
chiefly from some of the neighbouring districts.
Business in the warehouses is little better than
nominal, owing to the understanding that merchants
are absorbed in stock-taking. It is hoped that the
new year will give an impulse to the trade of this
place, especially to the plain goods department, but
the remarkable openness of the weather is not pro-
mising for anything like an average winter trade.
A few makers of Yorkshire goods were in attend-
ance, but buyers seemed unanimously to have agreed
upon a holiday.