Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wools Lower

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading was slow last week. Only limited supplies were available in the domestic market.

In Texas, several warehouses conducted sales of limited volumes, mostly late arriving spring shorn wools. An estimated 130,000 pounds sold. Demand was light, especially for short wool. Twelve-month, staple, paint-free 20.5-22 micron, average yielding brought 50-56 cents, low yielding 45-50 cents, few lots 3/4 -1 inch six-month wools 50-54 cents early, late bids 20-30 cents, no sales reported at the lower levels, fine lamb wool 19-20.5 micron, three inch, 50-53 cents, 1-2 inch 28-35 cents, crossbred lamb wool 22-23 micron 1-1.5 inch 20-25 cents, burry lots 22-23 cents, blackface ewe wool 26-31 micron, staple, 4-20 cents. Estimated 400,000 pounds sold in private treaty, 20.0-20.4 micron, staple, paint free, $1.40 and 20.5-20.9 micron $1.30, skirted/classed lots 20 cent premium and French wool 10-cent discount. Prices are clean basis, f.o.b. the warehouse, after handling charges.

Montana, Stillwater pool, estimated 14,000 pounds, bellies out and untied, 3-3.25 inch 24 micron wool 58 cents, 25.5 micron 47 cents, original bag, mixed lots 25-26 micron 34 cents, blackface wool 17 cents and bellies 12 cents. F.o.b. net producer. Over one million pounds of wool sold last week, but neither buyer nor seller was releasing details of trade. Some 35,000 pounds of original bag, BOU, 22-22.3 micron $1.17-1.20 delivered clean.

The Australian market indicator was down six cents at 773A cents per kilo clean, last year 728. A total of 79,159 bales were offered with clearance at 88 percent. The grease 21 micron futures contracts for October were down three at 704A, December down 18 at 678, February down 18 at 678 and April down 21 at 676. The 19 micron clean wool contracts for October were down 12 at 988A, December down 31 at 942, February down 33 at 940 and April down 33 at 943. The 23 micron cash clean wool contract for October was down 12 at 675A, December down 19 at 665, February down five at 668 and April up 20 at 688.

The current exchange rate of the Australian dollar to the U.S. dollar is .4889, last year .5493.

New Zealand sales of wool were mixed in uneven trading. The strong wool indicator was down six at 450NZ, medium up nine at 728, finewool down 51 at 1170. A total of 18,895 bales were offered with 88 percent sold.

The New Zealand dollar is .4113 of the U.S. dollar compared to .4165 last year.