THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1957.

*Page 9

TRADE and COMMERCE SECTION

FRENCH FRANC OVERVALUATION BMC LOST

Adjustment Possible

With Start

Of Common Market

By SYDNEY CAMPELL

London, Mar. 26. Overvaluation of the French franc remains Formal as before--hopeless but not serious. devaluation remains unlikely because France's and export barriers discriminatory import subsidies give her all the benefits of a selective become devaluation. Until these contortions administratively unworkable she can pick and choose to her own advantage and to the disadvan- tage of her neighbours,

The securities franc is devalued abroad but wherewith not at home. The capital frane foreigners buy French securities in Paris is artificially held at virtually the full official rate whereas the franes obtained by reselling French securities abroad are at about 7 per cent discount.

WORLD RUBBER MARKETS

New York, Mar. 20. Rex rubber contract closed 85 to 35 points lower with rules of 246 contracis,

March

May

July

September

November January March

2160

21.48

21.20

31.05

فكار المال

30.00

30,40

Standard contract closed 85 to

95 points lower with

March

reported.

May

July

Beptember

January

November

March

no salce

31.00

31.48

31,30

31.03

30,50

30.00

3010

on

the

ازه

Nevertheless Cic Francaises den Petroles attracts Bothe

on the new British buying discoveries even though the buyer faces an immediate 7 per ent currency loss if he pas lu resell quickly,

The new 15 per cent cut on holed bills

foreign paid in exchange is not the Introduction of a tourist arene because there was one already. British tourists,

example, who take fro for moters

travellers Instead of cheques have for months been getting the notes at

per cent discount.

change is that the

about

15

The

authorities may, now get some of the foreign exchange Instead of the note

market getting I all, but probably not much still took because the notes more attractive.

D-Mark

French reported to be

Incidentally, the Continued retreat terminal market reflected the Government is lower London cables, plus the buying foreign petrol at almost restrictions prolonged

In buying any price to avoid puuse interest from large and mail that would make it unpopular. domestic consumers. Specula- tive cominission house Equida-

A tion and dealer selling met scale-down demand from one prominent dealer.

Observers

the credited demand mostly iu

with covering. consequent Impairment of the

muricets* techutent

short supposed

position. Shipment

offerings

from pri were in much mury greater supply, but at prices

centies

Soine French observers com- fort themselves that the D-mark 1 also beginning to suitor a certain instationary tendency which

Intensited by Tilly late

They wage demands.

delude themselves.

that All objective sigts pre the D-märk is going to remuera and the krently undervalued sink of other countries' reserves, labour market re- Germany's labor

than

US MAY REDUCE TARIFFS ON CERTAIN

BRITISH AND BELGIAN GOODS

Washington Mar. 20. The United States has announced that "limited" trade negotia- tions will be held in May with Britain and Belgium to reduce US tariffs on certain British and Belgian goods. However, any tariff culs granted by the United States cannot be re- duced more than 10 per cent over the next two years,

being negotiations are underlakon at the request of Britain and Belgium who re- quested "compensatory" tari cotiersions by the United States after American duties were increased last year imports of certain linen towelling

The

Jan, the State Department sudd, also wanted to benefit by any tariff concessions granted 10 the two western European countries, and West Germany, too, has expressed

MOLLET'S SPEECH

SENDS PARIS -

OILS UP

Paris, Mar. 26. Olts and chemicals reached new highs today on the Paris Stock Exchange, Premler Guy Molici's yesterday In specch Arras saying the oil in the Sahara would change tho (400 of Franco's last

Doonomy Who the

tonos noeded to produce the boom.

Thousands of orders came from all over the coun try and most of shares reached a new top,

reached - Standard

the

ESBO

100,000 francs, for

first time at 1209 GMT and Immediately after- ward the Francaise Den-

potrolse jumped to 49,-

The 000 francs,

rush then started on

French chemicals with Rhone Fullens reaching 53,100 franes and the steel com- panies following. The Government

1.0-

попроед that it might Issue "all Ioan" In order Lo help private Investors to find a war to help and benefit from French Industrial deve. lopment-Unlied Press.

100 high to interest local mains incomparably caster CHICAGO GRAIN

buyers, Spol No. 1 R was France's or quoted of 31% cents.

SINGAPORE

tinued influx

of labour Lvm Eastern Germany and Western The market opened slightly Poland cases it further.

Indeed the Germans now re- higher despite lower overseas advlees.

Production igures for sent the excessive influx of Poland Maloya declining 1,000 ton was young

workers being the chief factor. However, instead of the much smaller flow later in the day the market of

dependents unemployable

they had contemplated. some Federation which

There was lis long-term political implica-

used

un

godown liquidation.

from

interest in the granting of any compensatory concessions.

The

מח

State Department said articles on which tariff cuts would be discussed hid annual import value of $22,- 000,000. The largest of these was a linen

fabric used in manufacturing Women's dresses. imports of this fabric in 1953 were valued ut $17,000,000.

be

The list of articles which will constccred for possible tariff culs at the public henr- Ings was announced by the CHI and the Tarl Commis- sion as follows: Sodium alginate; sperm oli, relined or otherwise pro- cessed; spermaecti wax; zine chloride; zinc sulphate; Biological, chemical, métallur-

geal, pharmaceuticni, and sur-·

1.

gical articles and utensils of all kinds, Anished or Buished, wholly or in chict value made of hused

quartz or fused silico; Textile machinery, finished or unfinished, for manufacturing

er processing vegetable fibres other than cotton or jute (ex- cept beaming, slashing, warp-

winding

machinery). Ing of

30

combinations thereof, and ox- cept bleaching, printing, dye- ing, or finishing machinery; Cotton cloth, containing no more than 17 por cent wool In weight; tracing cloth; water- proof cloth, made principally of collon or other" vegetable ibre, but not in part of India rubber; Imitation oriental rugs; certain woven fabrics; Certain types of bound and un-;

bound books. China Mail Special.

Swapping Main Feature On

NY Cotton Mart

WORLD PRICES

New York, Mar. 26.

Cotton futures today moved irregularly higher with new crop deliveries side.

Singapore

Stock Market

Singapore, Mar, 27.

favouring the strong

In moderately active dealings, the list scored gains, up to 80 cendiu

a bale, with deferred months closing on the highs,

Final prices ruled off 3 to up 15 points. The market opened up 1 to 5 points. New Orleans closed off 1 point.

Swapping operations, Involv-

Brokers today quoted the fol-ing exchanges of nearby lowing stock prices:

Były Lintang Rubber Co.

British Borneu Petroleumi

Syndicate Consolidated

Opening

Sinelters Ord. Fraser Neave Ltd Ord... Fraser & Neuve 72%. ruyn,

Го

$1.00

$450

32% #2 15.

pret

$4,03 Gammons (Malaya) Limited $2.30 Hongkong & Shanghai Bank-

Corp.

$855

Hongkong Tin Lid.

756d

Kempas Ltd.

$1.07

Lunas Rubber Estates Ltd,

Malaya Brewerien

$2.00

New Berandah Rubber

Lid

$2.37

$2.70

$2.35

Singapore Cold Storage

$1.01

Bouth British Insurance Co.

Lid.

$32.50

Straits Trading

were

Straits Steamship

327.30 $17.10

United Engineers Ord.

$2.05

in

*oday's

⚫comely; † exdiv,-

Special.

MARKET

Chicago, Mar. 20, Trade was mixed and grains generally steady to frm on the Board of Trade today.

Oats and corn trade

Petaling in kid. Haßlen Hotel

some interest for lower grades tlons for the Oder Neisse ques- } fairly light, but prices showed; Wearns Bros. China Mal

and remills but it qulet throughout the rest of the tionably cases the West German

was rather tlon are serious but it unques-

day.

Futures:

No. 1 rubber per ib. April 9344-9315 May 035-1334 No. 2 rubber per lb. April 90-INKS No. 3 No.4

++

Spot rubber unbaled

Blanket crepe

No. 1 pale crepe

LONDON

labour market.

Assurance

90-D

Another French view is that

devalued the franc will not be 02-0212 TD-8115 unless there is some assurance 09-100

that the new role will remain stable and unless It can be done

The rubber market was easy in conjunction with an adjust- with spot quoted at 27% pencement of other currencies

3 sterling.

Some

Paris experts are to think that the beginning of Common Market (next 2716-274 the 27-2714 January if the treaty is ratified by the various Parliaments) 2876-27 2011-27 would be a suitable moment. 2614-22034 2434-27 2015-27 2016-27

per lb. Prices:

No. 1 R spot

**

2716-2796

Settlement house term:

April deleted

May

Ji

April/June deleted

July/September

October/December

January/March...

April

MAY June Estate crepe this April

thick April AMSTERDAM

General marketa, eif basis, porta:|

Etronger

dealings,

trenut

Rye and soybeans are about: stendy with their action seemed to be influence by the trend in wheat.

Wheat closed up % to 1 cent; soybeans closed unchanged to up 1% cent,

Prices per bushel in cents: Wheat No. 2, red

such

Spot

2201ね

May 222116(L) 22114

said

July

September

December

21014-1 2184 22297

Corn, No. 2, yellow

Spot

13244-132

May

13144-71

July

1357

September

December

130 131

Ryo

May July Oals

May July Soybeans, No. 2, yellow

Spot

May

12094-16 124

2124-7 0531

2421 n 241-240

July

September

PATEL 2311

The first and third of these points are well taken. There is no sense in devaluing from one distrusted rate to another. There littlo sense or be very could meaning in a Common Market while the French franc is so

The rubber market was easy distorted. There is nothing in Prices closed today in guilders per kilogram, cif April as fol the point about sterling. The

French franc's problem of over

lows:

No, rubber

No. 2 rubber No. 3 rubber

No. 1 crepo

201 buyers valuation is its own; it is not 258 buyer shared by sterling or the D- buyers mark-China Mall Special. 2.70 paul

United Frens.

Exchange Rates

Tukštiena

was dong in the

local

this

unofficial exchange market morning at the following rates;—_

U.B. dollar (per $1)*****

Berling notes (për £1)

Glam teal (per 100)

11

Australian notes (per Indonesian rupiah (per 100) .. Singapore (Strails)

NAMESAKES

0.17

LONDON METAL PRICES

London, Mar. 20. Prices of metals closed today sterling per long ton as

10.30 in 12.75 follows:

.10.20

spot

-month

November January Barley, Spot New York flour

200 lb. sack

ZIK-K

2271

130-140

$13.20 United PrH.

London Foreign Exchange

London, Mar. 26. Closing, rates were;

buyers pollerg

28.00 Ti

780

www.

Copper pot

Smonth

2002

Lead and half June 11a

2381. 20

1121

New York

ind

2nd balf Mar.

100

Lead 2nd half Mar. 112

Answere:-1 Juan, 2. Theatre, 8 Play, 4 Invalid, Comedy, 6 Actor, 7 Ridigute, 6 Miser, Scene, 10 Satino, 11 Franco,

Jean Motione (French desina" tiat).

Montreal

Amsterdam Brüggels Zine 2nd half June 946 De Frankfurt

The tin market was steady Milan while other metals were all alo quiet but steady, Turnover for. Stockholm din was 100 tone, lead, 100 tone, | Viena

'tons and zino 850 turies- | copper 100

tons-United Press,

Paris

Prest.

-2.7096-9.29-3/10

200+0/16-3.00-31/18 10.001-10.00% -24087-140.071S'.. *11,90-11.75) 1700-17004 19.9714-1030

1447-11434

1127/5-12.173)

unchar

jor

later deflycries, provided a main trading feature.

BMC LOST WALL STREET RALLY

FAILS TO ATTRACT

MONEY LAST YEAR

London, Mar, 26.

The British Motor Cor- poration, manufacturers of the MG,

Austin, and

Morris, announced night it lost money ki the six months ending January $1, and would pay na in- Lorim dividend to ordinary share holders,

A

company

SIILOGICE-

ment elfed the “many diti – culties" the auto industry had encountered and add- ed that "oo forecast of the results for the year ending July 31, 1957, can sit pre- seni be made?

Last your, BMC pald Atockholders four Dar očni interim dividend and another eight and a half per cent at the end of the Ausncial your.

A

The announcement salá that the dividend dua

March 31 on Preferenco

shares would be paid from reserves.

Meanwhile Sir Patrick Hennessy, Chairman of the Ford Motor Go, of Britain sald today Britaina sulo industry was stiți burs in competition with

Faropican manufacturĪDIN "by the penal rato 10% purchase tax the increasing ins

and adequacy of Belush roads."

Sir Patrick said

which works under small turnover tax of six Per Deni increased ita salts last year by one-fifth, “In the United Kingdom the Intention was that a high Fute

of purchase tax would divert home salca to ex- Deri," Bir Patrick's slate- ment went on.

Germany's auto the West

"Not only has it failed in this, but it has no re- duced the volume of sales In the home market that costs have been increased and the ability to compete In export

markets hat

been thereby impaired," he concluded...United Press.

HONGKONG

STOCK EXCHANGE

(From Our Correspondent)

Traders liquidated old crop months against purchases of new crops. Technicians believed holders of nearbys were coming to the conclusion old crop in fluences have been discounted, kong They

the expected They

market morning hereafter to pivot more on crop proximately

this

Business done on the Hong- Stock Exchange amounted to

$170,000.

FRESH DEMANDS

New York, Mar. 26. Stock prices strengthened on a somewhat better turnover touched off by a brief mid- afternoon rally,

The fluxy, which lifted nosne) Camo (7. L.) Co. prices as much as point, was Cat. Tractor

Celanese Corp said to be the result of the C. I. T. Financial Corp. activity by specialists, worried Chaos Manhat, Danic by

Climax Molybdenum

the coldrums.

protracted market Shrysler Motors

The street generally is await. ing some surprising news de velopment to touch off either fresh

spurt of demand of selling and the result of late has been a series of slow markets, dis turbing to the brokerage housea who, it is said, need

10

Colgate-Palmolive Co. Colombian Carbon Ch. Commercial Credit Commonwealth Floc. Consolidated Edison Continanial Oil of Del

Crown Zellerbach Cuban Amer Bugar Diamond Alkall Douglas Aireypfi Dow Chemicals

feast Dupont de Nemours

Eastern Airline

o 2,000,000 share turnover 10 Eastman Kodak break oven.

Activity Faded

Paso National Gos

Yamily Finance Corp.

Firestone Tyre & Rubber

Ford Motor ... General Electric General Foods

to Geral Motors

on Pub.

While the rally fallod attract new demand and activity

Getty Of taded rapidly. It also failed to Glidden Co.

bring in any selling at the highs ared this was

construed

in.

Goodrich B. #) Co.

as Goodyear Tyrn

Gul bi evidence of a strong internal Heyden Newport Corp.

position.

Homestske Mining Co. Ingersoll-Band

Interchemical Corp.

Final volume at 1,600,000 and Steel Co. shares compared with 1,590,000 Int2 Business Machines on Monday. Activity had been | Intl Harvester *****

lagging at the slowest pace since International Nickel

International_Paper last October 12.

Inti & Tel

- Steel shares, selected motors, Jah Manville Co. Kannecott Copper chemicals, oil and special issues Urgell Meyers Tob. Co. highlighted the upside. Indus- Lockheed Adraract

trial shares as a group averaged Loews Incor

up 73 point at $72.24 while Lone Star Cement Co. raila dipped 13 to 143.34 and McDonnel based .00 to 70.03, the 05 stocks average up day at 166.89.

utilities leaving

Steels had Anal gains ranging close to 2 points

& Sons,

Aircraft Stuck Exo.) general al tren Corp. Minnesota Mining 0.08 point on the Miedon Development

Monto Chemical Co. Motore Inc. Montgomery Ward

Of a total 1,117 issues traded 426 were lower, 400 higher, 291 unchanged with 38 new

highs

set, 33 new lows.

New York Stock Exchange bond volume was $3,500,000.

American Stock Exchange volume was 650,000 shares.

Dow-Jones

were:

30 Industrials 20 rails

16 utilities

65 stocks

40 bonds

National Carb Reg."" National Dairy Prod. National Lead New York Central On Mathieson Otis Elevators Owen-Illinois, Glam Packie Gas & Elec. Pan American Airways Paramount Pictures

arke Davis Co.

Panty 1.C. Co. Philip More

closing averages | Pillsburgh Plate Glass

Comm. future price index ..

Closing Prices

Allied Chemicals Alla Chalmers American Airline

American Cable

Corp.

ap- | American Cyangmaido

Noon Amer. & Forgn. Power

Am. Mach. & dry.

nows, statistical developments quotations and the morning's and possibilities for a "higher transactions; government loon rate

next season.

Bhare

News of the government sale BANKS

HK Bork

Bayer Bellera

Balex

1610

of 581,160 bales out of the sur- plus for export, against bids INSURANCES opened March 10, proved un- Union

Lombard expectedly large to some ob-

date the govern- SHIPPING bales Wheelockj

servers. To

ment has sold 0,081,850 under the export programme. DOCKS, ETC. Average price paid for middling K. Wharf

one inch was 27.42 cents against Dock XD .. 27.22 cents

on the previous Provident salo.

LAND, ETC. The certificated stock ro HK Hotel.. 21K Land.. Humphreys Volume Open interest

0,700 441,300

RUDRUN Amalg Trust

Japanese Sewing mained at 10,480 bales.

Machines For

Sears Roebuck

Chicago, Mar. 20. Scars Roebuck Co., nation wido retailing organisation, con- firmed today that it has placed orders

Japanese sewing for machines.

Company officials rotused, however, to disclose how many machines have been ordered cr other details.

So far, omelala noted, no machines have been received No information was available as to when they would be offered for sale in the United States,-- United Press.

CONFIDENCE OF

FURTHER GROWTH

London, Mar. 20. Ford Motor Company's con- fidence in the future growth of demand for vehicles remains Armly

based following. thorough ro-study of prospects in world markets..

This was said by the Chair- man in his annual report. 10 | shareholders.

Month May July October December

March

May July Total

182,000

2,800 4,400 180,400 8,700 161,100 3,600 71,000

1,000 05,300 7,000

American Metal American Emelting Am. Bugar Ret. American Tel & Ti American Tob, "H" Anaconda Copper Armeo Steel Armour

Allar Como

Mining

Baldwin-Lama-Ham.

Baltimore & Oblo

Beneficiat Finance

Benguet Cons.

Procter & Gamble Co. Publicscer Industries Pure Oil

Radio Corporation

143.34

47824 Republic Sicel

70.6

100.

Reynolds Metal

Shell Oil Co.

90.09 Baint Reg. Paper

155.75 Sinclair Cil

Boceny Mobiil Solar Aircraft

South Puerto Rico Bugar Boaters National Gas ... Southern Rallway (Com.) Standard Brands Standard off of cal.

15% Standard Of of Ind.

Standard Ol of NJ, Steep Rock (Toronto Sterling Drug Co. Stokely-Van_Camp

17734

Studebaker Packard Corp. Swift & Co.

TEXAS CO....

Fido Water Assn. 011 Twenty Century Fox Film Union Carpide

819% Union Pacino Railway 65 United Aircraft

157 | UB. Yoli "B"

21({; | 08. Gypsum

+4{| U.3, nubber 1977 | US. Bmelting

UB. Bel

2 W 45

3714 18

Bendik Aviation Corp.

8.70 6.00

Bethlehem Steel

4

Boeing Airplane

47

102 100 101

Borden (The) Co.

66

44

000 v 4410

13.30

Burroughs Ace Machine Canadian Pacific

40

སྦ༞ དྡྷི

13.70 14.10

301

1.4235 1.4735

... 1.02 1.071% 2500 1.65

100

222 1,00

32. 104

UTILITIES 43,700 10,100 1,020,600 bales Star Ferry

Yourmet XD C. Light

22.00 22.70 30 Telephone. 24.40 24.70 1023 8 24.00

NEW YORKK Prices of cotton futures closed | Electro today as follows:

Spot

July

October December March

July

ESGRANBO

REXASARA

300 24.40 2.70 1244424.80

100 24.70

11.50 1430 1000 2 11.00

INDUSTRIALS Cement Поре

1. 19.80

34.00

20.17

$4.71

STORES, ETC.

Dairy Watsons Lane, Craw. 28 2014

Nany INVESTMENTH Yangiste Ailled

18 10.20

8.10

... 5.85

$30

500 4

4.10

NEW ORLEANS Prices of cotton futures closed | COTTONS today as follows

Spot

Moy

July

October

December

March

MAY

July

LIVERPOOL

Cotton future closings, In

FIRM TONE

pence per ib. were as follows: ON LONDON

Old contract

March/April

May/June

July/August

October/November December/January Now contract

1. ·March/ADHIL

May/June July/August October/November December/January

Keypilan Karnak

"January/Webruary

TAM TAICo

20.38

2018

25.08

25.91

MOST

20.44

205.99

40,00

in

Cotton - fatura closings,

MARKET

.

London, Mar. 23,

Renewed hopes for an early strike buttlement gave the siợpic

| market & deya tone: today.

British Government bonds

were steady after a rally, from Initial Toader,

Warner BroE, Westinghouse Electrio Western Union Tel. Co.

Wert Va. Pulp & Paper Woolworth

United Press.

As approved by the Postmaster General, Hong Kong

AIR MAIL ENVELOPES

tracdonal South China Morning Post mado Industriais gruzeiros per lo were as fol- gains. Features were in the ship

buildings, engineering and radio

Job Printing Department

lows:

May

*The company, planned to, go chead, he continued, for keeping Its entire range of products up

Opomber to: date and for flie necessar, March expansion and modernisation of Tota factories and equipment-Chink were - 341,

Mall Special.

unquoted | groups..

shares showed small gatos by london, Gold simres word Copper, and other bato metals were steady, fixeek bonda [ted) were higher. Döllar:stocks ruled

irregular-United Pre

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