AWEX says the market staged a minor rally on the last day of sales (Thursday), after initially falling away earlier in the week.

Viewed in the currencies of our major customers, however, this week’s EMI closed down by US10¢/kg (1.3pc), indicating that the still high $A exchange rate and the bigger wool offerings have continued to dampen the market in real terms.

The $A hit another high of US94¢ early in the week, before easing to US91.5¢ during the sales which started on Thuesday in Melbourne, followed by two-day sales in Sydney and Fremantle.

Performance of the key indicators this week was:

• EMI, down 3c/kg, to 850¢c/kg.

• Northern, in Sydney, down 4¢/kg, to 876¢/kg.

• Southern, in Melbourne, down 3¢/kg, to 828¢/kg.

• Western, in Fremantle, down 5¢/kg, to 855ç/kg.

A total of 46,509 bales were offered nationally.

Next week, just over 49,000 bales are expected to be offered in three centres, including the final Newcastle sale for the 2009 calendar year.