It is difficult to give anything like a concise ac: bunt of the piece goods market during the week. In some cases. a renewed inquiry from northern consuming centres. is reported, while elsewhere the experience has been that these have! been quiet. It is generally agreed that demand from Hankow and other) Yangtze ports has been smaller.! Locally prices have shown a steadier, tendency, and although Home values appear to have stemmed the recent downward trend, there is in some guarrers-a: feeling'that values here, settled. cessions unless the trade demand is strong enough to counteract the recent declines at Home.
During the past three or four weeks a fait amount of business has been done in spring fancies, particularly in such articles as white Tawns, white brocades, ete., and it is pointed out that this class of goods tends more and more to replace what have hithe-to. been con-Sidered the staples of the trade, For the time "being the demand seems to have been satisfied, but it is understood that quite a number of orders have been placed.
So far as demand at the auctions is concerned the Yangtze and near markets seem to have been hanging fire, and generally speaking the tendency of prices has been easier. Possibly this is accounted for by the approach of the Dragon Festival, but whether or not, the auctions have been dull and featureless. -Speculators are apparently out to depress high quality Ttalians, and it was difficult to maintain' last week's ices. The tone was slightly better for medium and lower quality the tendency throughout was and there appeared to be no i ventive to improve on last week's rates. Greys were in and out. Some makes of heavy-weights were very much better, while others went Just as far in the contrary direetio The market for Waites was ver similar to that of a week ago. No support was found from Korea, while there was a diminution in d mand from Hankow and Tien was generally quiet, Cotton, Yarn, Ete, China Cotton—On the local Exchange China cotton is up from 5] quiry doring the week for general produce, and although comparatively little business has been put through, the general outlook is more hopeful. This inquiry is both from America and the Continent.
'Some business has been' resumed in groundnut kernels for shipment to European ports.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.