view. of the decline of rubber on the London market this week, it is interesting to read the following report from the London and China Express" of December 29:
The market for Plantation oontinues strong and dearer, with a good demand, but supplies are searce. Standard No. 1, crepe spot sold up to 38. 9fd. (last 18. 1i}d.), January 35, o}d., January-March 3s. 9}d. value; January-June 38 Bhd. buyers, and July. December 3s. 4}d. buyers, Smoked sheet (standard ribbed) spot sold at 38. 9d., January 3s. 9d., January-June 3, 8d., and July-December 3s. 4td. Pare firmer. Hard fine on spot closing 3s. 5d. (last year 2s. 10d.).
It is steadily becoming cleazer that the recent rise in price is not due to any manipulation, but that the underlying cause is' the expansion of consumption. The fact that hard fine Para is now beginning to share in the upward movement affords confirmation of this. view. It now seems probable that the increase in production from the Mid-East, which in 1916 may ea: had been regarded as likely to lead to a substantial reduction in the selling price of rubber, will be read: ily absorbed by the huge demand created not merely by military uses but by the great burst of prosperity in the United States.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.