In piece goods deariers have been showing slightly more inquiry, principally for White Shirtings, but} business is still Incking. There is, however, a somewhat more hopeful tone in thay they have been elearing off chops which have been. neglected for the past two or three months. So far as auction cargo) is concerned there [ave been more. purchases by merchants with the dea of clearing them prior to China Near Year and getting them into consumption immediately after the settlement, while a steadier ton was also introduced because of the fact that this is the first auction for which payment is delayed until While the consuming centres which have been in the market have on the whole been sinaller in cumber than in the past few weeks, it has been noted that. these able' to buy have shown tendency to take larger quantities than previously.
'There has been no improvement in dyed goods at the auctions, but business in Greys and Whites 1as been more hopeful, Most of) the demand for these qualities has; been speculative, as payment is only jatter the New' Year settlement, [The news from Changsha butter than n week ago, and the boycott is still in operation there, and 28 a consequence some of the cloths for ce ion there are out of sale On the whole deliveries ba better this been week than for the past two or three weeks, Cotton, Yarn, Ete, Chinese Cotton—On the local Exchange cotton is about Ti. 0.25, per picul higher than a week ago. Owing to the approach of the settle-mont there has been very little doing on the Exchange, but mills have been buying moderate quantities of Indian and Chinese cotton. Yesterday the issued no tations on account the settlement, the closing on Wednesday being follows: January 28.45: February 28.10: March 28.40: April 28.45: May 28.50, yess done amounted to 12,600, piculs. Spop quotations ace: Tangchow 30.50: Shanghai 20/29.50- Shensi 29/29.50: Ningpo 20/20.50, Yarn—Clearances of yarn have been quite fair during the week, but there is no fresh demand from the mills cither for yarn or cloth, and little is expected until after Gyina New Year. On the Iceal Exchange yarn is about Ti. 0.50 up on the week, the closing quotations on Wednesday being as follows:—January 127: February 128: March 128.90: April 129.40: May 130. Business done amounted to 5,100 bales. There was no markov yesterday, being settlement day. Spot quotations are as follows:—10's 110/122: 12's 118/192: 12°s 118/128:
16's 125/135: 20's 128/140.
American Cotton—American cotton is rather firmer, the latest rates! being as follows:—January 12. May 19.02: July 13. spot 12.95: highest January 12.65: lowest January 12.53, Liverpool quotations:—Mareh 6.74" October 7.01: spot 12.95. Alexandria quotations:—is January 2499: March] 24.94, Indian Cotton—-Market closed. Sampin—Market closed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.