SUPERFINE wool prices showed a glimmer of hope, rising 3 per cent last week.
The lift in the 18.5-micron categories was against the downward trend in the fine to middle-microns.
The price premium between 18-micron and 21-micron wool jumped to 22 per cent, up 2.3 per cent on the previous week.
In national sales, the trade took 91.9 per cent of the 46,144-bale offering.
AWEX reported its Eastern Market Indicator finished the week 3c/kg cheaper at 919c/kg clean.
Much of the sales focus was on Newcastle's end-of-season specialty sales.
Specialist exporter G. Schneider reported that it was the better-quality, sounder types that attracted greatest interest.
Exporter and processor Elders Wool International said the improved demand for the better-quality superfines indicated the market had some "direction" compared to recent weeks when buyers and processors were more focused on accumulating 21-micron wools.
But while the trade was happy about a lift for superfines 18.5 micron and finer, prices were still 50-70 per cent below the peaks of 2002.
