From Messrs. Insert & Co.'s Weekly Market Report, dated Shanghai, January '30, 1908.
Alter the departure of the Siberian mail to-morrow, the market will be practically closed until after Ohinese Ney, Year holidays. Although there is little or no new business to, report this week, the swell transactions that aye taken place here and there tend to confirm belief in the firmness of the present position. As stocks are running down, prices are slowly creeping up towards the parity of the producing markets, but so far valent of replacing cost The suspension of auctions has bad a favourable tone of the market, bat unfortunately the relief from that quarter is unlikely to be of sufficient claration to be of material advantage to the trade. Advices from Newchwang report a firm market, more especially for American goods, stocks of which are said to be considerably reduced. Telegrams from America quoting an advance of 3d. to 44d. have been received, and Manchester again reports sales for China, at rates which are not yet obtainable here, excepting in cases where dealers themselves are taking the risk of the market advancing. Sales of old stocks are being made from day to day at much better prices than were obtainable three months ago, so that losses sre not likely to be so heavy as seemed probable at the beginning of the winter.
Another dealer in fancy goods is reported to have suspended payment, with liabilities representing a defi ciency of about Tls. 75,000. The cumulative effect of! this apd other failures should be to lead to @ cartailment of facilities to sanguine bayers of small resources.
'A case of infringement of an English trade-mark by Japanese manufacturers has been brought to the notice of the Chamber of \ommerce here this week. The chop and combination of lettering are identical, the only difference being the maker's name, and the substitution of, "Made in Nippon" for Manchester." As the use of the chop in question is defended on the lex that it has been registered in Japan, it is to be ped that when the Trade Marks Regulations are finally settled, care will be taken to protect vested interests in China against unfair competition, which neither Chinese nor foreigners of good standing will countenance.
The Chamber of Commerce returns of stocks at the end of December have been published. The usual discre angies between the estimated figures and those returned appear, English shirtings are 70,000 pieces in excess of the estimate; it is not unlikely that some confusion has arisen, in the returns of American Shirtings, and English and American Sheetings, as if these three classes, added together they are only 87,000 or 3 per cent different from the estimated figures; American Drills are surprisingly heavy, being 156,000 pieces more than wap expected, while white shirtings are 235,000 pieces 9-Ib. to 11-lb—~Market quiet, but the tone at the close is quite firm and an advance may be confidently looked for when business 'f2-opens. Sales reported sre Blae Dragon and Five'Old Met at Tle: 3.85; and Two Men at Tls. 3.77}. Prices were steady to firm at the auction.
12-Ib. 36-in.—Prices are firm all round, but the only business we are able to report is a sale of 6,000 pieces Man and Sword LIH... at Tls. 4.10/15. Auction prices advanced 74 candareens.
T.-Cuorus xp, Jzaws.—Nothing has been done in these during the week. T.-Cloths were firm at auction but no Jeans were offered.. oxy Wuire Satarixos.—A firm tone prevails in the market and inquiry has been fairly satisfactory though holders have in most cases declined to operate at the prices offered. The only sale made public is in Variegated Bound Dragon at Tls. 6.20. A firm tone ruled at suction.
Dats axp Sueetixos—With the exception of some inquiry from Newchwang which has so far not been productive of basines there has been practically no life in the market. Quotations, however, may be said to be steady to firm all round.
Dye" axp Faxcy Corroxs.—'
blank one #0 far as pris The few lots of Fast Black Cotton Lastings sold at auction went rather irregularly.
Wonsteps axp Woote: also little or nothin, quotations are quite firm for all classes, At the auction Long is dropped but all other Woollens were quite firm.
Corrow.—The market for the local staple has continued firm throughout the week though business has slackened off somewhat towards the close, To-day's quotations ato Tungchow at Tls. 20.20, Shanghai No. 1 at Tls. 19.00, No. 2 at Tls. 18.75 and Kojao No. 2 at Tls. 19.40. American Middling Cotton is quoted at 6.33d. per Ib. and Egyptian at 98d. per Ib.
Yarw.—Local and Indian Spionings have advanced about Tle If to Tle 2 and the feling in th decidedly better. "Japanese Yarns are also ready to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.