306
IMPORTS -
COMMERCIAL.
RICE.
HONGKONG, 12th April:--The tone of the mar ket remains unchanged and the prices are about the same as when last reported. Saigon, Ordinary
to $4.55 to 4.65 4.75 4.9
"
Bound, Good quality Long...
$4.50 ...$460
*4.70
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2.....$4.85
Garden,
23
White,
12
Fino Cargo
"
ما
to
No. 1...$4.5
$4.75
$5.00
to 4.70 to 4.80 to 5.05
JAPANESE MÄRKETS.
IMPORTS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
KOBE, 31st March.-Cotton.-American.-The offcial report 189ued on the 21st instant for the past year gives the total crop at 13,408,000 bales being considerably above the estimated quantity. Prices, however, have not been much affected and continue to fluctuate within a small range.
Iatost quotation for "forward" Middling was Y.31.50. Business is quiet. "Spot nominal at Y,3 400. Indian-Owing to high prices ruling, no business of importance has transpired in "forward." "Spot" likewise is dull, due to mills having supplied their requirements for the time being. Broach closes at Y,26.75; A la Y.23.00. Fengal Y.23.00. Chinese.--Practically no business is re- ported in this direction, owing to high prices ruling as compared with other Cotton. Best is quoted at Y.27.00. Common Y.23.75. Shirtings.-No change since last report. Cotton Goods and Fancies.—No change since last report. Worsteds and Woollens. -No change since last report. Metals.-Market extremely dul', with the only exception of Tinplates, in which article goed spot transactions are being done at advancing prices. Pig Iron is Buffering from over-supply and whilst stocks of Bar Iron are not abundant buyers are holdi: g off fearing a further drop in home quotations. Sugar. -Cane.-Baw.~Java.- l'hem rket has declined. Formosa. The market remains firm. Osaka Refined. The u-ul auction took place on the 23rd instant when 5,000 bags O-aka, 1,000 Yokohama and 800 Kobe Sugars were offered and all withdrawn. Kice.-Weak with downward tendency. The House of Peers have shelved a bill to increase the duty on imported Rice and other cereals which was introduced and passed by the Lower House.
EXPORTS.
Copper. Though prices at home have ex- perienced & slight recovery no business has been doing as holders of copper are keeping back their stocks in anticipation of higher values in future. Fish Oil. No stocks, qutations nominal. Rice.- In the absence of demand from abroad the mrlet is weak and declining. Cutton Yarn. The market is weaker. Vegetable Wax Market quiet and no buyers at pre-nt quot:fions. Matting. - Demand dull, prices remain unchanged and are to low that it is said they scarcely cover expenses, little work on los therefore, Straw Braid. Now that the demand for the current reason has been practically filled prices of both Straw and Chip Braids are steady.
PIECE GOODS.
Messrs. Noel, Murray & Co. in their Piece Goods Report, dated Shanghai 2nd April, 1909, state:- Advices of an encouraging niture have come down from Newchwang newhat earlier than was anticipated and have put considerably more life into this market. The chief effect so far as Importers are concerned s felt in the better clearances that are being experienced, though a considerable quantity of American goods have changed hands amongst the native dealer, Buyers from fi at hands are acting very cauti usly and working off t e purchases they made for Spring arrival before commfitting themselves any further. The apparent apathy which the dealers are showing, regarding forward buying must not be mistaken, it is the only policy to pursue at present and Import hou es should encourage it and exercise patience. It no use cutting prices in order to effect sales from stock as goods to replace can only be obtained for distant delivery. There is a strong under current of enquiry fr Tientsin, for which market it is said a good proportion of the Auerican makes booked early in the year have changed hands. The disposition to draw supplies from here instead of ordering direct shipmen's is certainly increasing, although there is in some cases a tendency to try and coax the tra e back again by a re-introduction of the credit system that has worked such havock not only there, but here also. It was certainly not
[April 12, 1909.
HONGKONG QUOTATIONS,
HONGKONG, 6th April, 1909.
Hongkong markets:
Apricot An Borax Cassia Cloves. Camphor Cow Bezoar
Kismis Gluo Olibanum
Oil Sandalwood
++
Rosa... Cassia
legitimate trading and the end it would come to was long foreseen. Too great trust had been put in the much vaunte integrity of the Nativo dealers and they failed to stand the text, with the result that Importers who had all wed those long credits for years have been the sufferers. attempt is now being wado to recover the losses through the Chinese Government on the ground that the local fici d have rendered no a-sistance in bringing the defaulters to book. Here the Authorities have gone to the trouble of making Feanel Soed long lists of cases for trial, nembering over 240 | Galangal for last year, a large proportion of which have not
Grapes been called, and already over 50 for this year, you but little satisfaction is ́ever got out of them. The root of the whole matter was the want of proper precautions when orders were booked brought about by the growing competitions in this trade, and the consequent endeavour to undermine the business of rivals. News comes from Hankow that through the depreciation of Copper Cash the employees in the native Piece Goods Hongs and Shops have struck for higher wages, with the consequence that all the said Hongs and Shops are closed. It is not anticipated, however, that the strike will last very long, and so far no falling of is noticeable in the shipments from here. Manchester keeps very steady without much being booked for this market. The rise in the Cotton market may have a strengthening effect, the Liverpool quotation for Mid American coming this morning 5.05d, for spot' and 5.01d. for June July ortion. Egyptian remains un- changed at 77d. The New York market is show- ing slightly more disposition to trade in some quarte:s, though many of the Mills have taken up a very firm attitude, intimating that no Counter offers will be entertained and no parcels can be broken, Business is thereby undoubtely restricted, but some has been done, though just how much it is difficult to find out. Prices are
certainly no lower. The fact is gradually cowing
out that several Mills in the States have ceased
-
making cloths for China, their looms being more profitably employed on goods for the home trade, 8 that a number of erst while well-known chops will be missed from this market. Cotton has further recovered to 9.43 cents for July option. The market for Yarns is again quieter native holders being willing to supply the demand a tuel to a tael and a half under what Importers are asking. In this way ully 5,000 bales are said to have been resold this week. The corner on the Osaka Exchange forced prices up to Yen 139.00 a bale but they have since dropped to Yen 121.60 for April and Yen'115.70 for May. A good busine-8 is passing here at firm prices. Local spinnings are also firm and Native Cotton little has been done in English makes either from is strong and in only moderate supply. Very
stock or for forward delivery, but clearances are going on satisfactmily, especially for the North. There is rather more inquiry for Prints and certain classes of White Shirtings. In Grey goods 8.4-lbs. are easier, but no specific sales are mentioned. In American goods we hear of a
fairly large sale of Pepperell Drills at Tls. 5.10
less 1% from first hands, and fresh purchases in New York of Loray A 3 yard Sheetings at 10s 5, and Clifton C C C Sheetings of the same weight at 10s. 3d. Pacific shipment. Resales of these goods are reported to New chwang to the ex- tent of fully 3.000 bales of which we hear the follow- ing are included-New Horse and Dog Tis. 4,60, Abbeville and Loray A Tls, 4.75/80. Blue Large Stag and Large Sheep Head Tls. 4.10, Cameron, 2 Rabbit: Tls. 485 and Buck's Head Tls. 4.90. In Drills we hear of 2 Eagle at Tls. 4421 and Three Fish at Tls. 4.45. The Auctions have shown a we ker tendency, especially for the staple makes of Grey and White goods. Turkey Reds are showing some irregularity, but without much change. Fast Black Cotton Italians, although showing some irregulacity in the majority of ca es are certainly no stro: ger. In Woollen goods some colors of Camlets have shown better prices, but they are more than counterbalanced by the decline in others. Lastings sold at steady to firm prices, Long Ells irregular, Spanish Stripes weak.
EXPORTS:
MISCELLANEOUS EXPORTS.
Per P. & O. steamer Delhi, sailed on 3rd April, 1909. For Hamburg-6 bales goose quill. For
Manchester-586 bales waste silk. For Gibralter. 17 bales silk piece goods, 1 bale curios. For Milan-10 bale- raw silk. For Valencia-20 bales raw silk. For Lyons-3284 b les raw silk. For Marseilles-210 bales raw silk, 100 bales waste, silk, 5c ases bristle, 9 cases bird feather, 1 case silk Poogee. For London-72 bales raw iilk, 233 bales waste silk, 11 cases silk, 31 Pkges Personal Effects. For Naples-19 hales silk goods. For Beyrouth 5 bales Punjum Book,
Raisius Senua Leaves Sandalwood Saltpetre
$19 to 20
$18 to 19-
+23 to 234
$32 to 83
$80 to.85
$70 to 120
$8
$3 to 44 $18 to 20 $19 to 21 $26 $3 to 14 $250 to 300 $70 to 90 $1921
$131
$8
$32 to 33 $10 to 11
HONGKONG SHARE QUOTATIONS.
HONGKONG, 8th April, 1909.-Owing to the Easter holidays our report is issued a day earlier than usual. During the period under review our market has ruled somewhat quiet but steady at current rates, and a very fair investment business has been put through, At the close there is little or no pressure to sell, and in many cases there is considerable difficulty in obtaining supplies at quoted rates. Sterling exchange has remained steady during the inter- val, and closes at 1/813d T. T. with Barsilver at 23d. The T. T. rate on Shanghai has receded to 714.
BANKS.-Hongkong and Shanghai in the earlier part of the week fell to $910 at which rate a few shares were put through, but later the rate hardened to $920 with sales, the terdency at the close being toward further firmness. London has improved to £86.10.0. There is no change to report in Nationals which are still wanted at $51.
MARINE INSURANCE.-Small sales of Unions at $850 are reported but at the close shares are procurable at 8845. China Traders have im- proved to $90 and Yangtszes to $217, both North Chinas are wanted closing in request. at Tls. 100 and it is probable that better could be done with shares actually in hand to offer Sales of Cantons have again been effected at $187§.
FIRE INSURANCES.-Hongkongs under an unsatisfied demand have advanced to $320 after sales at $15. Chinas are easier with sales and sellers at $105.
SHIPPING.-Hongkong, Canton and Macaos have been booked at $294 and 129 closing firm at the former rate but with some sellers at the latter quotation. China and Manilas have been booked and are still wanted at $8. Douglas have buyers at $35 and Indos at $61 for the combined Preferred and Defered shares after sales at that rate and at $60, Star Ferries can be placed at quotations, and Shell Transports at the improved rate of 55/6.
REFINERIES. China Sugars have been booked at $137 and $135 and close with some shares offering at the former rate. Luzons are neglected with sellers at $17.
•
MINING. There is no change to report in Charbonnages which are still in request at $600. Raubs have been booked at the reduced rate of $8, and are wanted.
DOCKS, WHARVES AND GODOWNS.-Hong- kong and Whampoa Docks have been sold in considerable quantities at 880 and $81 closing steady. Kowloon Wharves close firm at $51 after sales at the rate, and at $50 and 8503, Shanghai Docks, and Shanghai and Hongkew Wharves are locally unchanged at Tls. 85 and Tle. 162 respectively
LANDS, HOTELS AND BUILDINGS. Hong- kong Lands have ruled quieter, and sales have ad in a small way at $30. and Humphreys been effected at $97. Kowloon Lands are want- Estates at $8 Hongkong Hotel have har dened, and there are now bayers at $84. Shanghai Lands in the North have improved to
i Is. 118.
COTTON MILLS.-In the absence of Tele graphic advice we quote the Northern mills- ander latest mail reports as follows:-Ewos Tis, 119, Internationals Tls. 934, Laon Kung Mows Tls. 110, and Soy Chees Tls. 410. Hongkongs are still procurable at $9.
*
f