Interest in piece goods has been very small during the week. Indent business continues at standstill, and until conditions are reversed is likely to remain so, for the prices. prevailing at the auctions are very much below replacing costs. For instance black Italians should normally be at their strongest just now, but in spite of its being th height of the season, there is no sign of the customary active demand. The principal reason for this is that traffic conditions between Shanghai and Chinkiang are the worst possible in these days for the carrying on of trade, and as Chin-Kiang is one of the largest markets for this fass of goods, this has a serious effect on the situation.
The general pessimism of these weeks has been relieved to some extent by the atmosphere at the last auctions. The tension of the Jocal situation is still hampering trading' conditions, but there are evidences that confidence is returning. Prices have steadied and_ in'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.