154
COMMERCIAL.
SILK.
Messrs. A. R. Burkill & Sons, in their Circular dated 11th of February, state:-The home markets are quiet. Raw Silk A small business only has been transacted since the date of our last issue. The outbreak of hostilities between Japan and Kussia has entirely demoralised business. Ex- change has advanced with such sudden rapility that business is rendered impossible. Yellow -Very little business to report since our 'ast
Hand Filatures.-A few small settlements are reported. Steam Filatures are neglected; we have not heard of a single transaction. Wild Silk-About 100 bales are reported to have changed hands. Waste Silk Stocks are very small and no contracts have been 19nde for Tussah Waste (ice cargo) up to to the present.
SUGAR.
Hongkong 19th February.-There is no change in the price as when last reported. Shekloong, No. 1, White... $8.55 to $8.60 pels.
Do.
2, White...... 7.55 to 1, Brown...... 6.00 to
Do.
Swatow,
Do.
P
7.60
15
Do.
6.65
21
#1
2, Brown.....
5.85 to
6.90
21
"
No. 1, White..
8.45 to
8 50
"
2. White
7.50 to
7.55
Do.
1. Brown.....
5.85 to
5.90
2
"J
Do.
+7
2, Brown...... 5.75 to 5.80 Foochow Sugar Candy 12.50 to 1:.55 Shekloong
10.70 to 10.75
RICE.
#
HONGKONG 19th February.-A further decline in price is reported, market being weak. Saigon, Ordinary
Round, good quality Long
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2
Garden,
J
White,
Fine Cargo
No. 1
"
$2.85 to $2.90
4.20 to 4.25
1.40 to 4.45 3.40 to 3.45 3.30 to 3.35 4.50 to 4.55
4.80 to 4.85
SAIGON, 12th February. Messrs. Wm G. Hale and Co. of Saigon, in their fortnightly circular dated 12th February, state-Owing to lack of demand from all direc- tions, our market has given way considerably, and would have receded yet further were it not for advices of a marked advance in the Hongkong rice market, which had its repercussion upon ours. The feeling is strengthened by the con- stant arrivals of tonnage to fill existing contracts, also by the approach of the Chinese New Year holidays, which are to begin on the 15th night. There is nothing doing in other directions more- over, as exchange has risen considerably.
The quotations for March/April delivery are:-
per picul. No. 2 White sifted (trié) steam mi led (mixed) No. 2 White unsifted (ordinaire)
steam milled (mixed)
5% Cargo steamer milled (mixed)
$3.45 $3.15
10 20%
}}
"
"
71
$2.95
21
»
"
$2.85
The following is a statement of this year's ex- ports of White Rice, Cargo Rice and Paddy
Hongkong.
Manila.....
Iloilo...
Cebu......
Japan....
Europe....
Total..
.236.500 per picul.
....99.200
79
..28.200
**
48.440 77.600 ....90.800
27
37
.600.810 per picul
Quotations are:-Allowance net. to 1 catty.
OPIUM.
19th February.—
Malwa New
.$925
Malwa Old
$970
Malwa Older.
Malwa V. Old.
Persian fine quality.
Patna New
to $945 per picul to $990 do. $1,030 to $1,050 do. $1,050 to $11,00 do. $890 to
do. ..$900 to
do. $1,245 to
Patna Old..
to
Benares New
.$1,240
to
do.
Benares Old
to
do.
Persian extra fine
88
per chest.
do.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
MISCELLANEOUS IMPORTS.
Messrs. Noel Murray & Co., in their Piece Goods Trade Report of 11th February, state :-The week under review has perhaps been the most full of ex- citement this market has ever seen. The day after our last report was written advices came of the collapse of the cotton ring in the States, sdme firms receiving quotations from Manchester, as much as eighteen pence per piece down for 10-16 shirtings! The following day it became known that the patience of Japan was exhausted and she had determined on war, and, without any formal declaration, hostilities promptly commenced, the greatest naval battle this world has seen for over a century being now in progress, and in which some of the most modern ships afloat are engaged. The anticipated rise in silver and sterling rates has followed, some of the local exchange banks, owing to their depleted coffers, quoting a good deal over the normal price for their paper. Nat- urally all this has had the effect of finally stop- ping business, the culminating point being reached this morning, when for the first time for thirty years a Yuen Fong auction had to be withdrawn as the dealers declined to bid. The ostensible reason given is that of the uncertainty of the native banks resuming business before the due date of the sale, as the bankers have intimated that they will probably not open so promptly as usual. This declaration is said to have emanated through the recent action of the local For- eign Authorities in demanding and securing
the rendition of a certain Native merchant arrested in the Settlement unbeknown to them by the native police, and who is indebted to certain Native banks for a considerable amount, these banks declaring they would have been much more likely to recover their money if the man had been left in the Native city! Some of the buyers at last week's auction are unreasonable enough to claim that their purchases at that sale should be declared off on account of the complications that have arisen since! The usual Ewo sale took place yesterday without any interruption, but prices were all lower Manchester advices are being somewhat delayed owing to the heavy traffic over the cables in connection with the war. On the 6th inst. cotton came 7.82d for Mid American and 10d. for Egyptian; but this morning the wire of the 9th inst. came in quoting them down to 7.52d, and 91d respectively, and quotations for all goods and yarns are lower, but not so low as some private telegrams make them. We have not heard of any advices from the States. There has been a little business doing in Indian yarns for the River markets at steady prices for clearance after the holidays. Cotton is not quotable, the available stock being very small and mostly undesirable.
MISCELLANEOUS EXPORTS.
Per steamer Nestor, sailed on 10th February. For London:-200 packages chinaware, 111 half chests tea, 673 boxes tea, congou 7,595 lbs., scented caper 12,600 lbs., 535 rolls matting, 40 cases bristles, 200 bales canes, 200 casks ginger, 274 casks soy, 32 bales feathers, 7 cases fans, 15 packages effects. 23 cases cigars, 1,160 balos hemp, 870 | buffalo horns, 184 cases shells, 10 cases hats, 65
cases gum elemi. For London or Manchester 100 bales waste silk. For Manchester:-200 bales waste silk. For London or Goole:-200 bales pierced cocoons. For London or Glasgow:-200 casks ginger, 375 cases ginger, 250 bales cassia For London or Hamburg 9 bales cares, 20 cases bristles. For London or Hamburg or Antwerp-257 bales canes. For London or Antwerp-40 cases essential oil. For Marseilles or Havre-624 rolls matting. For Havre or Bordeaux :---265 rolls matting. Havre or Ham- burg-15 cases bristles. For Hamburg-167 bales duck feathers, 471 bales canes, cases bristles. For Amsterdam:-413 rolls matting. For Bremen-430 rolls matting. For Antwerp: -126 bales feathers. For Trieste :-500 bales cassia. For Port Said:-71 rolls matting.
Per P. & O. steamer Palermo, sailed on 16th February. For London-1,000 boxes tea, 484 half-chests tea, 422 rolls matting, 9 packages merchandise, 20 bales hemp, 111 bales feathers, 63 cases chinaware, 2 cases lacquerware, 2 cases curios, 15 cases camphor, 4 cases camphor oil, 52 bales bamboo, 3 cases books, 28 cases woodware, 3 cases silka, 12 cases furniture, 7 cases gum, 10 packages cotton seed. For Burnos Ayres:-229 packages tea. For Amsterdam:-210 half-chests
tea.
For Rotterdam-210 half-chests tea For Hamburg-2 bales feathers. For London and/or Goole :-75 bales waste silk. For Marseilles 300 pierced cocoons, 103 chests tea."
ON LONDON.--
ON
[February 22, 1904.
EXCHANGE.
MONDAY, 22nd February.
Telegraphic Transfer Bank Buis, on demand Bank Bills, at 30 days' sight Bank Bills, at 4 months' sight
1/103
1/1011
.1/107
Credits, at 4 months' sight
..1/1176.
PABIS.
Documentary Bills, 4 months' sight 1/111
1/111
Bank Bills, on demand
..239
2434 1944
ON GERMANY.——
Credits 4 months' sight On demand
ON NEW YORK,—
Bank Bills, on demand Credits, 60 days' sight ON BOMBAY.—
Telegraphic Transfer Bank, on demand ON CALCUTTA.—
Telegraphic Transfer Bauk, ou demand IN SHANGHAI.-Bank, at sight
Private, 30 days' sight
ON YOKOHAMA-ON demand. ON MANILA.-On demaul ON SINGAPORE.-On demand ON BATAVIA. On demand
ON HAIPHONG.-Or demand ON SAIGON.-On demand ON BANGKOK.-On demand. SOVEREIGNS, Bank's Buying Rate GOD LEAF, 100 fine, per taol BAR SILVER, per oz.
SHARE REPORT.
46
467
144
1403
1401
.1401
...71
.717
..94 nominal nominal
1141
11 p.c p.m. 1 pcp.m.
63
$10.50 57.25 271
1 he
HONGKONG, 19th February, 1904-Business during the past week has been interrupted by the Chinese New Year holidays, and but few transactio..s have been put through. general tone of our market is weak, and we close mostly with selling quotatious, duo principally to the continued tightness of money and the uncertainty of the political situation.
BANKS. Hongkong & Shanghais bave fallen to $635 sellers, after a small sale at that figare. London is unchangel at £81. Nationals are firm, and shares are now enquired for at $34. FIRE INSURANCES. Hongkongs continne in request at $305. China have full na y t $90 sellers after sales at $91.
MARINE INSURANCES. No business bas o our not.ce, and quotations remain as come baf. re.
SHIPPING. Hongkong, Canton and Macaos are weaker with sellers at $28. Indo-Chinas are easier with sellers at $83. China and Manilas are procurable at $24, and Douglases at $34. Star Ferries continue on offer at $30 and $19 for the old and new issues respectively, and Shell Transports at 21/-.
REFINERIES.-China Sugars are firm for cash with buyers at $106, but for forward delivery rather lower than equivalent rates have been accepted and are still current,
Luzons are neglected at $10 sellers.
MINING.-Nothing doing, and quotations are... purely nominal.
DOCKS, WHARVES, AND GODOWNS,—Hong.. kong and Whampoa Dooks have sold at $207 an $206, and close with sellers at the lower rate. Hongkong and Kowloon Wharves continue firm at $95 buyers. New Amoy Docks are unchang- ed at $37 sellers. Farnham, Boyds have advanced in the north to Tls. 137 sales.
LANDS, HOTELS, AND BUILDINGS.-Hong. kong Lands have weakened and close with sellers at $149 after sales at that rate. Kowloon Lands have receded to $35 sellers. West. Points are lower with sellers at $54. Hong. kong Hotels are unchanged at 8146 seller. Humphreys' Estates are procurable at $10.60. Shanghai Lands have been booked at Tls. 113. bat are on offer at that rate with no bayers i.. the market over Tla. 112.
COTTON MILLS.--No business has transpired, and quotations remain unchanged.
MISCELLANEOUS.-Green Island Cements have weakened to $25 sellers. China Borneos are now procurable at $81. Ropes are reported booked at the advanced rate of $140, at which further shares are procurable. Ices can still be obtained at $228. Campbell Moores are
J