In what were the first sales of the 2008/09 season, there was little change in the market compared to a week ago, with the AWEX eastern market inidcator unchanged at 874¢/kg (clean).

Region by region, this reflected changes of:

* a rise of 2¢/kg (+0.2pc) in the north, where the indicator finished at 912c/kg;

* a decrease of 5¢/kg (-0.6pc) in the south, which closed at 840¢/kg; and

* a fall of 9¢/kg (-1.1pc) in the west where the indicator finished the week at 845¢/kg.

There were 45,544 bales on offer, compared to 40,292 bales last week, of which 7.9pc were passed in.

AWEX reports that the market remained firm this week against a United States exchange rate which again broke the 96¢ barrier.

The US exchange rate closed at US96.24¢, up 0.57¢ (+0.6pc) since the last sale last week, while the exchange rate against the Euro fell by E0.78 cents (-1.3pc) to close at E60.65c on Thursday night.

Clearance rates were again good and competition continued to be strong for the better types of wool.