All business in piece goods timnes to be of a hand to mouth des and although the rise in focal values already noted continues, it is not yet sufficiently great to allow] of any discussion of forward business, A considerable amount of interest is being taken by dealers in local stocks. of Italians, Venetians, Twills and Velvets, anda moderate turnover from second-hand has been! seen, while there has been an improvement in clearances, While a good deal of the demand is of a speculative character, the buying proceeding is on the part of tee trade and not by the professional operator, It is now felt that this ind is due to a realization of the ards stocks in China, jad an inquiry into the future has} parently convinced dealers as to] how acute the position is bound become, Especially will this be the case when the demand for Blacks cts in about a couple of months hence. It in interesting to note that at the auctions Italians have advanced Ts. 1.70 per piece during the post five weeks, but still they have a long way to go before meeting 1 placing costs. There is no doubt th the tendency of the market is in the ight direction, and there are some now convinced that although a very|* great deal of leeway has to be made up, it will, within measurable distance of time, be accomplished.
The Auctions At the Kungping auction on Tuesday buyers were mostly prominent} from the Yangtze and local markets, while with speculators taking a hand, bidding proved brisk throughout. "Prices advanced to the following extent:—Greys, 5 candareens; Whites, 1 to 15 mace; Italians, 34 mace; Twills, T candareen per yard; Venetians, 3 candareens per 1r3, Only a small quantity was on offer, and the demand was unsatis-
Bed.
Another small suction was. the rule at Yuenfong on Thursday, the total being again 74 packages. ' Another big rise in prices was exper-fenced, particularly in Blacks, the increases being as follows:—Italians, 7 mace; Venetians, 103 mace, Velvets, 13 mace; and Poplins, 28 mace. A strong speculative demand was in evidence from most quarters, but from Kiukiang and Chi ing. Greys were stronger again, and chops which had not been cold for a week or two were once more in favour at higher levels. A consider-lo demand for Whites came from Tientsin, which offered better rates, but Korea was quiet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.