138
COMMERCIAL.
SUGAR.
HONGKONG, 24th Feb.-The prices are further advancing, market being weak. Shekloong, No. 1, White..... $9.12 to $9.15 pels.
Do.
2, White...... 7.80 to 7.90 1, Brown...... 6.70 to
"
**
Do. Do.
6.80
"
"
Swatow,
Do.
2, Brown...... 6.50 to No. 1, White...... 8.45 to
2, White.....
8.60
*
7.60 to
8.50 7.70
Do.
1. Brown....
6.70 to
0.80
Do.
2, Brown
6,50 to
6.80
J
13.15 to 13 25
JE
.........12.50 to 12.40
"
RICE.
Foochow Sugar Candy
She loong
$1
HONGKONG, 24th February.-The prices are the
same as when last reported.
Saigon, Ordinary...
Round, good quality
Long...
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2
Garden,
15
"
White,
24
Fine Cargo
No. 1
11
.82.10 to $2.15
ta
3.70 to 3.75
3.85 to 3.95 2.55 to 2.60
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
per bale.
As the country is reported almost bare of stock, these receipts cannot be called excessive, but dealers having in view the collapse of the | Cotton market in America, are under the impres- sion that much lower prices will prevail here shortly, and are now holding aloof. Importers, on the other hand, although auxious to push business to a reasonable extent, are not at all inclined to follow buyers in their demand for lower prices and a temporary check is for the moment being experienced. Latest telegrams from Bombay make that market steady, most of the mills having secured very favourable contracts as far ahead as the end of the year. Advices from the country are very satisfactory, the yearly settlements of accounts having passed off there without difficulty and proportionate confidence is apparent.
Local Manufacture:-A single sale of 100 bales No. 10s. at $106 is reported.
Japanese Yarn :-Nothing doing.
Raw Cotton-Continues dull and depressed, and no concession in rates would induce business in Indian descriptions. In China kinds a sale of 100 bales (small) is reported at $23. Stocks, 2.65 to 2.75 Indian 6,500 hales, China 1,000 bales. Quotations
are: Indian $18 to 822 and China $22 to $231.
Exchange on India has continued. to decline and closes to-day at Rs. 140 for T/T and Rs. 1401 for Post. On Shanghai 72 and on Yoko- hama 924.
3.95 to 4.00 4.15 to 4.25
OPIUM. HONGKONG, 23rd February, 1905.-The move- ments in our various Opium markets since the 9th instant, have been as follows:-
Stocks as per circular of
9th instant, 1905.
Malwa Putna, Benares. Persi an.
11
"
Feb. 11th Imports per Bengal Feb. 15th
Lui Sang Feb. 21st
C. A pear
"
11
Less Exporta to Shanghai Less Exports to East and West Coast Ports including Local Consumption for the fortnight..
Estimated Stocks this day
1,458 3,001 983 2,130
203)
381
220 860 365
1,761) 8.771 1,849 2,911
135
2.5 200
100
143 4 203 224
1,691
2,917 1,043 2,087
Bengal--The market has advanced to $1,170 for Patna and $1,105 for. Benares, and is quiet but steady.
Malwa. The high prices asked by importers Quotations are as is restricting the demand. follows:-
New
$1,150
9
years old
$1,170
8
$1,225
"
#
$1,300
*1
4/5 Oldest
$1,350/1975 Persian. A small business is passing at previous rates.
The undernoted business in imported and local spinnings is reported from Shanghai during the fortnight ended the 10th instant, viz :--
Indian-The market opened steady after the holidays, but in consequence of a temporary rise in the prices of Cotton in America, rates advanced two taels por hale all round, and about 6,500 bales changed hands to the spot and forward delivery. Estimated unsold stock 37,000 bales.
Japanese-Are in good request, about 3,500 halos changing hands on the basis of Tls. 88 to 102; for No. 16s, and Tls. 93 to 103, prices showing an advance of one to three tacls,
Local:-There are no sales to report from first hands, but prices are firmer in sympathy with imported yarn.
ยท
PIECE GOODS.
Tho
Messrs. Noel, Murray & Co., in their report on the Shanghai Piece Goods Trade, dated Shanghai 16th February, states:-It would be quite safe to say that never in the history of this trade has the market shown such extraordinary activity so soon after the China New Year holidays than has been displayed during the week just closing. sudden demand has taken Importers quite by surprise. A short month ago they were very much down in the mouth, and really the outlook was far from pleasant. The way the dealers here were schemcing to keep pric-s up was looked upon as were bluff, and a miserably dull time was anticipated, so much so that several prominent members of the trade took the opportunity to go up country for a little relaxation, never dreaming that business. and to such an extent, would com- mence thus early. It is evidently not for prompt per chest. delivery that Manchester gods are so much wanted, or Auction prices would have shown more uniform firmness, but American wakes for the North are meeting with prompt clearance, both the Tientsin and Nowchwang markets being eager for supplies, so much so that shipments are still
Quotations are:-
Malwa New
Malwa Old
$1200
23rd February. Allow'ce net. to i catty.
$1150 to $1170 per picul.
do. to $1230
Malwa Older
.$1280
to $1310
do.
Malwa V. Old.
$1340
to $1370
dy.
Persian fine quality...$880
to
do.
to
do.
Patna New
.$1170
to
Patna Old
to
do.
Benares New ... Benares Old
.$1110
to
to
do. do.
Persian extra fine......$910
COAL.
Messrs. Hughes and Dough, in their coal report of to-day's date, state that nine steamers are expected at Hongkong with a total of 26,800 tons of Japan coal and 8,500 tons of Cardiff. Since 10th February 61,000 tons of Japan coal and 45,100 tons of Cardiff coal have arrived. market is quiet. Quotations:
f
Cardiff...
Australian
The
$18.00 ex-ship. .$11.00 ex-ship. $12.00 ex-ship, nominal .$10.0 ) ex-ship, nominal Moji Lump.....$6.50 to 9 50 ex-ship, steady
Yubari Lump.
Miki Lump
COTTON. HONGKONG, 24th February:-Small sales only, market closing quiet. Stock about 4,000 bales.
Bombay..
$19.00 to 21.00 per pcl. Bengal (New), Rangoon { 21.50 to 23.00
and Dacca......
25.00 to 27.00
Shanghai and Japanese. 25.00 to 27.00 Tangohow and Ningpo, Reported sales 150 bales.
#
TARY.
Mr. Eduljee in his report, dated Hongkong 24th February, says: Considerable arrivals have taken place during the interval, but owing to the heavy decline in exchange our market has been well able to withstand the addition to our stock, and in the majority of cases holders have suc- ceeded in establishing an advance of $1 to $2
being made at great additional expense ria Chin- wangtao, although according to latest advices the River is expected to be open by the 25th instant. It is the forward trade that has caused all the excitement, however, and the business done is described with such adjectives as trgineudons" and "marvellous," but it is practically impossible at the moment to attempt to estimate the total quantity. The demand started with American makes, as mentioned last week, but orders for Manchester goods soon followed suit, and very few of the import houses here, or the dealers, are not well inter. sted. Not content with booking goods for arrival in the late Summer months, or the Fall, manufacturers are impressing on
Import re the necessity of secu ing their output for much later dates, some of the makers of standard cloths requiring delivery actually a year
ahead! Exchange opened after the holidays entirely without consonane of the price of Silver, and its acrobatic feats during the interval have kept the trade guessing! Some of the banks must be reaping a rich harvest. The advices from Manchester are very strong. It seems that India has been caught napping and is now trying frantically to make up for lost time. The decline in Cotton in Liverpool to 4,08d. for Mid-American,
and in New York to 7.31 cents and 7.33 cents
respectively for March and April is practically unnoticed. The endeavour to force the price up to 10 cents in the States has apparently failed. The goods market is booming and firm prices
[February 25, 1905.
thoughout the season are now assured. Although the meeting at Charlotte, N.C. called for the 5th January, and referred to in our last, had not taken place when the last mail received here left the U.S., it appears to have had for an object nothing more or less than a combination to keep the price of Yarns up to a certain level, which is not compatible with the idea of usurping the markets that have hitherto been drawing their supplies from other Countries. The notion of curtailing the available supply of Cotton by burning not only met with a great de 1 of ridicule, but also turns out to be illegal according to the laws of some States. There is a strong desire growing up in the States to exploit this market a great deal more vigorously than has hitherto been done. Piece Goods. Very satisfactory advices are being received from Tientsin and Newchwang, and in spite of the large quantities that have gone up during the winter to those ports via Chinwangtao the demand shows no signs of abating. By the way, the figures for those two dependencies, we are afraid will be rather mixed, as all the goods shipped to the intermediate port are put down to the former. The holidays are evidently being enjoyed to the usual extent at the River Ports, the resumption of business taking place on the 20th instant. It is anticipated that some large orders will come down as the markets, in Hankow especially, inust be pretty bare of stock. For the time of the year clearances have not been at all bad. As regards current transactions they continue to be confined practically to second hand dealing. In Grey Shirtings a few 8.4-lbs. have changed hands amongst the Natives, and a small sale of 7-lbs. under Herald Chop is reported at Tis. 2.10, being the only direct transaction mentioned. Auction prices were generally firmer for all weights.
HONGKONG QUOTATIONS. HONGKONG, 24th February, 1905.
Beans
Borax
Camphor (China)
(Formosa).
Cassia (First quality)
.$3/4 .$6/17
$118/120 $125
$18/20
*
(Second
$14/16,
Oil
.$106
#1
Cloves
.$26/27
Fennel Seed Oil.......
.$310/330
Galangle
Glus...
$24
Grapes
$9/14
Ivory Kismiss
Olibanum Rosa Oil Saltpetre Sandal wood
Sonna Leaves Sugar Candy Vermilion Wax
.$400/600
.$16 ..$5/20
.$60/176
$10/11
.$:7/28.
Oil
.$300/400
.$2/9
$13/14
$72/76
.$80/83
MISCELLANEOUS EXPORTS.
Per steamer Glaucus, sailed on 14th February. For Suez:-100 cases cassia. For Marseilles : 909 rlls matting. For Amsterdam:-55 casks preservos, lo cases chinaware, 48 rol's matting. For Amsterdam or Rotterdam:-189 bales cares, 75 cases cassia, 33 packages sundries. For London: -16 boxes blackwoodware 50 boxes essential oil, 15
human hair, 10 casks ginger, 13 bales feathers, 33 cases ging r, 97 biles canes, 9 cases sundries. For London or Glasgow:-365 cases preserves, 50 casks preserves, For London or Cont:-179 bales feathers. For Glasgow:-2 cases effects. Dundee:-1 cases effects. For Antwerp:-50 bales feathers.
Cases
Per seamer Zieten, sailed on 15th February.
For Penang-2 cases cigars. For Aden:-750 For bags sugar. For Odessa:-50 bales canes. Genoa-13 rolls matting, 2 bales waste silk. For Antwerp:-9 cases lack woodware. For Antwerp or Hamburg:-50 cases bristle, 16 bales feathers. For Amsterdam:--93 rolls matting, 2 cases cigars. For Hamburg: -206 bales feathers, 13 cases Black- woodware For Copenhagen:-81 cases curios.
Per steamer Polynesien, sailed on 21st February. For Lyons:-62 bales raw silk, 2 cases tea: For Marseilles: -10 bales raw silk, 10 la es waste silk, 6 cases silk piece goods, 50 cases cassia, 4 cases
ylang ylang oil, I cases hats, 3 bales canes, I case porcelain, 24 cases provisions, 9 cases curios, 4 cases books, 1 case feathers, 1 package tea mustara.
1