The EMI eased 11 cents, followed by a further 17 cents, closing at 848 cents.

Melbourne hosted sales over three days, however only New Zealand wool was auctioned on Tuesday.

Wednesday saw the market in the south ease 11 cents as the 17 to 18.5-micron categories eased 15 to 20 cents, and the medium micron wools generally eased 10 to 15 cents.

Coarser micron wools were also generally softer. The SMI was quoted at 845 cents, then closed the week at 827 cents after easing a further 18 cents on Thursday.

Fine wools on Thursday were 20 to 30 cents softer, with medium to broad wools 15 to 25 cents softer. Coarser wools were again soft.

The northern market experienced the same conditions as the south, and eased 10 cents, followed by 16 cents with the NMI quoted at 874 cents after Thursday’s wool auctions.

The 16.5 to 21-micron categories offered on Wednesday eased up to 19 cents for the 20 and 21 micron categories, the few coarse wools offered (28 and 30-micron categories) easing 11 cents.

The following day fine through to broad wools generally eased from 20 to 40 cents.

Coarse wools were generally 10 to 15 cents softer.

The western market did not experience the same negativity as the east coast.

Gains made by 19.5 to 22-micron wools supported the market, lifting the WMI by three cents after Wednesday’s auction, closing at 867 cents.

Major auction buyers for the week were Techwool Trading (6047 bales), Kathaytex (2628 bales) and Elders Wool.

This week over 48,000 bales are expected to be auctioned over two selling days in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle selling centres.

This figure has been increased by 7.5 per cent from the previous estimate.