Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wools Higher

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading was at a complete standstill the past few weeks. Demand was light for finewools and lighter still for medium and coarse wools.

Wool processors are reporting reduced demand for tops as well as finished goods. Producer interest in selling was light to very light as most have decided to keep last year's clip and some early fall clips in the warehouse rather than sell at sharply lower prices than last spring.

Mohair trading was moderate to fairly active in Texas with nearly 158,000 pounds sold. In both warehouse and private treaty sales, fall kid measuring 4-5 inches and 29-32 microns brought $5.25-5.274, spring kid $3.50-4, fall yearling $2.51, young goat $2.35 with No. 2 at $2.15 and young goat matchings $2.50-2.553.

In Australia the largest total of the fall season, 97,272 bales, was offered with the clearance rate of 91 percent. The eastern market indicator closed up five cents at 489A per kilo clean. In 21 micron futures contract trading, December closed up seven cents at 544, February was unchanged at 547, April was up eight cents at 567 and June up 16 at 567.

The wool international stockpile still stands at 1,055,044 bales as trading was discontinued a few weeks ago.

New Zealand's market indicator closed down three cents at 402NZ cents per kilo clean. Strong wool closed down six cents at 365, finewool closed up 12 cents at 658, and medium wool was up seven cents at 458. Cristchurch offered a total of 11,163 bales with clearance at 85 percent.