This leaves only two buying weeks before the three-week Christmas recess.

With the opportunity to fill orders diminishing quickly buyer interest became intensified.

All types and descriptions across the entire merino spectrum enjoyed increases in price.

Buyers fought hard to secure market share.

Wools possessing favourable length and strength results continue to attract the greatest competition.

This sale, however, even lots with poorer numbers managed to achieve similar gains.

The benchmark Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) gained 23 cents to close at 1699 cents.

This has pushed the Eastern Market Indicator 10 cents above the record of 1689 cents achieved in Week 20.

Growers are continuing to show willingness to sell at these levels.

The clearance rate was again high. In this case, over 97 per cent of merino fleece wool was sold to the trade.

The skirting market also moved further into positive territory.

Following a very similar pattern to the fleece, prices were continually pushed upward as buyers tried to secure quantity heading into the break.

Main interest focussed on low vm, well measured wools but again all wools felt the effect of the rising market.

The crossbred sector has managed to reverse its downward trend with solid gains.

General price increases of 20 to 55 cents provided welcome news to growers of these broader types.

The better prepared lines attracted the greatest buyer interest and as a result enjoyed the largest increases.

The oddment sector attracted very intense competition.

Locks, stains and crutchings gained 30 to 60 cents.

This resulted in the three carding indicators increasing by an average of over 50 cents.