Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wools Higher

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading remained slow last week, nearly at a standstill under light demand and seller interest.

In territory trading, Nevada sold 60,000 pounds of graded wool, staple 62s at 30 cents net the producer.

Warehouse trading totaled 160,000 pounds. Graded, staple length 24 micron brought 70-72 cents clean delivered. French wools, 2.5-2.8 inch, 22 micron and finer, were 65-70 cents, the latter price for late spring delivery; 22-23.5 micron 60-65, the latter price for late spring 2000 delivery.

Australia's eastern market indicator closed up eight cents at 562A per kilo clean. A total of 69,128 bales were offered with clearance at 88 percent. The grease wool 21 micron contract for October was down three at 554A, December up five at 576, February up two at 593, and April unchanged at 609. The 19 micron cash settlement clean wool contract for October was up 26 at 1017A, December up 20 at 1012, February up 27 at 1015, and April up 12 at 1013. No data is available for the 23 micron cash clean wool contract.

New Zealand strong wool was down eight at 359NZ cents per kilo clean, medium down 13 at 407, fine up 14 at 891, and lamb wool 315. Eighty-two percent of the 3642 ton offering sold. The exchange rate is $1 U.S. to $.526 NZ.

In Texas, nearly 40,000 pounds of fall kid mohair sold for $6.50-70 per pound.

The second South African Cape mohair sale of the season found strong interest and demand. A total of 1889 bales out of 2253 sold. Best interest was in fine adult and kid hair. Kid hair was up 24 percent from the last sale, young goat hair up 14 percent. Kid hair averaged 106.11 rand with the highest lot at 147.02; young goat averaged 59.47 with the highest lot at 85.5; and fine adult averaged 29.83 with the highest lot at 53.5. Strong adult averaged 15.09 with the best lot 18. One U.S. dollar equals 6.09 rand.