The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-14
BUSINESS OF THE WEEK.
General Inactivity Causes Slight Yielding
in Prices of Commodities.

General Inactivity Causes q Slight Yielding
In Prices of Commodities.
NEW YORK, April ID If dizziness in trade
were always bad sligo, the present outlook
could not be called hopeful Al only one two
interior points is the actnal business transacted
satisfactory in volume; nearly all report COM
parative inactivity st present, with hopeful an
ticipations. though at several points consider
able slackeaiug of trade is now noticed. Money
has become tight at some Southern and West
points. the complaints of poor collections
being much more frequent TIE clearing house
returns for the first week Of April, which in
clnded large deferred payments as well as quar-
terly settlements. showed gain Of per cent
over last year outside of New York. but cur
rent transactions do not increase to that extent.
If at all The inactivity has caused yielding
in general prices. Notwithstanding slight ad-
vance in some speculative markets
The government report, allowing injury to
wheat. was the occasion OF sharp advance in
breadstuffs, and wheat is sill 2 cents higher,
though it has lost part of the gain, and corn
gains also, but oats closed no higher than week
ago. Chicago corner" in Fork bled some
short sellers, but prices quickly reacted.
Cotton liz shade stronger, fer though the crop
already in sight exceeds the entire crop of last
year, and the falsity of short crop estimates is
proven, receipts are now falling of. Oil has
risen 81 cents. Sugar has also gained a fraction,
but coffee is uncertain, and by some is shaded
to secure trade. and teas are slow and hesitat-
ing. Butter weak. Eggs are lower, and beef
does not improve
In the dry goods trade there ia only moder-
ate business. with some cutting to secure trans
actions. Print cloths have declined to 81 cents,
and the tone seems weaker for cotton DDS gem
orally, except for the most favored makes. In
woolens no change appears, and the weakening
wool market distinctly reflects the disposition of
manufacturers co confine purchases TO present
needs large sale of Ohio Xxx at 90 cents is
reported.
The boot and shoe trade cont inues more active
and cheerful than most others, and the demand
is good, but prices realized slightly lower.
Leather 10 quiet, with fair volume of trade.
the report of iron furnaces in blast April
indicates slight increase since March l. The
demand is, so far. satisfactory. but the Offering
of Southern iron at $40 to $40 for No. l, and SIG
Sales of 20. 600 tons steel rails at the East and
10000 at the West. reported unchanged
prices, but bar-iron is low and irregular
count of Western offerings: wire rods and
wrought iron pipe are lower, and nails are slow,
the Western Association having virtually
duced rates for all below 20
The stock market. after some rise and reac-
ton. stands precisely where it did week ago.
Large foreign purchases OF bonds are constantly
coming out, and there are signs chat foreign buy
ing exceeds selling of stocks. the Treasury. has
decidedly helped the money market the past
week, paying out So, SOC, 900 than it has
taken in. and foreign exchange is unaltered.
But the exports for last month evidently were
much behind last year, the loss being 20 per
cent. at New york, while imports New York
were but per cent lower last month than for
the same month last year, ard, for the first
week Of April, show q heavy incrsase.
The business failures during the last seven
days Der. for the United States 200. and for
Canada q or total OF 222. compared with
227 last week, and 10. for the corresponding
week Of last year.