The 7,900 bales of North Island wool on offer this week saw a 68.7% clearance with a generally firm to dearer trend, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.

THE ROLE of daylength in sheep breeding is well known, but what about wool?

Targeted types such as some first lambs fleece and oddments resisted a generally weaker market last week, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.

This week's North Island offering comprising 9,600 bales saw most sectors ease again except the finer lambs fleece, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.

The wool market was generally down this week due to a combination of strained exporter cash flows, slower demand and a slightly stronger dollar, New Zealand Wool Services International's general manager, John Dawson says.

The market held up fairly well for the last of the larger offerings of this season with 22,700 bales on offer and an 84% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.

The North and South Island Wool auction comprising 26,000 bales saw a firm to dearer market with a 90.3% clearance, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Malcolm Ching says.

A South Island offering of 8400 bales saw a generally firmer market this week and an 89% clearance rate, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's marketing executive, Malcolm Ching.

An after-tax profit of $1.08 million for the six months to December 31, 2011, is ahead of budget, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd (WSI).

The rising New Zealand dollar being toyed with on the international currency market is driving local wool values down, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.