The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-05 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Feb. 4. We have found very little
business going on in shipping yarns to-day, but
sellers report that the transactions which have taken
place have been all at the full prices of last week.
Spinners are brisk, being yet under contract, in
many cases, for two or three weeks forward, and for
this reason they are not disposed to give way in
prices. In home-trade yarns the market has been
also quieter. Spinners are asking extreme prices
for such yarns as are most in demand, including
32's twist and 30's to 10's weft. The full rates
asked have to some extent been the cause of check-
ing business, and in some yarns prices are slightly
in the buyer's favour. Buyers in some instances
have been able to suit themselves at id. per lb.
cheaper. The transactions in cloth to-day have been
unimportant, so that it may be said the market ge-
nerally sympathises with the quieter feeling in the
Liverpool cotton market. The active demand which
has characterised the cloth market for some weeks
past has in some measure subsided during the last
two or three days, buyers appearing unwilling to
follow the advance which has naturally resulted
from such an extensive business. Manufacturers are
no it very full of orders, on the other hand, and are
nor, on that account, anxious to press further sales.
They mostly adhere to their present high quotations,
because the full prices they have to pay for cotton
and yarn admit of no concession. To-day there
has been a pretty fair general inquiry, goods suit-
able to India having, perhaps, the greater share of
it; but we bear of but very little business being ac-
tually effected. For cloth, as for home-trade yarns,
where manufacturers are not fully engaged to order,
they are rather easier to deal with ; but such cases
are quite exceptional. Mr. F. E. Gaddum publishes
a report from Bombay of Feb. 1, quoting 811 b.
shirtings (net), 83. 7kd., while Manchester values
now ruling are 9s. 6d. per piece ; 71b. shirtings, 7s.
3d., against Bs. at Manchester; 31b. madapollams,
35., against 3s. 7kd. per piece; but holders were an-
ticipating higher prices and were unwilling to sell.
As regards cotton prospects, Messrs. Ellison and
Heywood, Liverpool brokers, report the falling off
in receipts during the past month to temporary
causes, such as the Christmas holidays (which last
in the south ten days), and to the low state of the
rivers for a time. They also remind their clients that
the crop this season was two or three weeks back-
ward, and that planters were naturally unwilling to
sell at the enormous decline which had taken place
in price since the cotton was sown. They think, at
all events, that any attempt to reduce the crop esti-
mates popular six weeks ago is premature. Messrs.
John Slagg and Co. report of this day's cloth-
market :—" During the last few days the demand
in our market has in a great measure subsided, and
to-day, though we have a fair inquiry, the amount
of actual business is limited. Makers now being
well engaged, adhere to their full quotations, which
are further supported by the high price of yarns."
CARDIFF, 3d.—The high winds which have pre-
vailed during nearly the whole of the past week
have prevented a number of vessels arriving and
departing, consequently the shipments of steam
coal have not much increased since last report.
From the East the demand continues tolerably good,
and the requirements at the mail packet station are
greater than have been for the past two or three
weeks, and it is expected the demand will be still
further increased, as the stocks have been consider-
ably reduced. This has caused freights to become
much firmer for large tonnage, and to some ports a
rise has taken place. From France inquiries have
become more numerous, as there is a fair prospect
of the exports to that country being considerably
increased. At nearly all the collieries the men are
working pretty regularly, and during the past week
a considerable quantity of coal has been sent down
from the Aberdare and Rhondda valleys. The col-
liers have accepted the proposed reduction in wages,
and the few who remained out for two or three
days have now returned to their avocation. There
is no favourable change to note in the iron trade, I
and at some of the works the hands are being
reduced.

LEEDS, 4th.—The cloth halls' markets this morn-
ing were quite as well attended as last Tuesday.
There was a moderate amount of business done, con-
sidering that much dulness continues to prevail in
the woollen trade, as a whole, in this district. The
tone of the markets was certainly of an improving
character, and a disposition to purchase suitable
goods for the coming season was more strongly
shown than for the past few weeks. Tweeds and
' fancy goods, also unions, have sold to a fair extent,
and there has also been a tolerable demand for the
better and medium classes of hair lists. Stocks,
however, are quite equal to the demand, and manu-
facturers and country clothiers are not fully em-
ployed. Wools, woollen yarns, and goods are equally
steady in price. The flax trade is rather more active,
without any material alteration as to the raw mate-
rial yarns or threads.

ROCIIDALE, 3d.—There was a small attendance
of buyers in the flannel market to-day, aid they
showed little disposition to purchase goods. The
aggregate sales, indeed, were less than at last
week's market. The best qualities of plain flannels
are the most saleable, the demand for fancies
being slack. Prices, upon the whole, considering
the slackness of trade, are steady. The same may
be said also as to those of Yorkshire goods and
of wool.