According to the Australian Wool Industries Secretariat, the AWEX eastern market indicator rose by 3¢/kg (clean) to end the week at 873¢/kg.

Region by region this reflected changes of:

* a rise of 1c/kg (+0.1pc) in the north, where the indicator closed at 912c/kg;

* a rise of 4¢ (+0.5pc) in the south, where the indicator finished at 840¢/kg; and

* the western indicator remained unchanged at 847¢/kg, as there was no sale in Fremantle this week.

AWIS reports there were 19,646 bales were on offer this week - the smallest sale of the season.

This compares to 30,392 bales last week when all three regions sold.

AWIS says the market firmed on the stronger note of last week, with increases across all types and across a number of micron ranges.

Competition for the better lots, including some spinners types in the south, was again strong, with the typical lesser support for the low yielding and poorer type wools.