Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-05-20
MARKETS OF THE WEEK.
How Prices Of Farm Products Are
Now Selling.

Special to the Reflector
CHICAGO, May l9.-The market
outlook as furnished by McLain Bros.
& Co., commission merchants, Rialto
building, this city, for the week end
ng today is as follows:
The chief items of interest in recent
financial news are the reports of
steady increase of loanable funds at
banking centers, without an adequate
demand to sustain interest rates, and
the disquieting effect of the possibili-
ties attending the action our country
takes in Cuban affairs The latter not
only affects the volume of domestic
business in stocks and bonds, but is
manifest in the interest taken in Amer.
lean securities abroad as well, and I'm.
til the policy to be pursued is known,
and its probable result determined.
there will doubtless be but little in
provement in the demand either at
home or abroad. Although the roads
have improved and there is a crafty
ing increase 1.-THE trade of wholesalers
in portions of the west and northwest,
the general business of the country con-
tlnues only fair in volume, and specula-
tive ventures in anything that does not
promise immediate results do not seem
TO be alluring to any great number of
persons having the means to invest
The Eastern question: which had sub.
sided into state pacific enough to en-
courage the belief in speedy and am
lcable adjustment Of claims and differ
ences. Is once more accorded serious
consideration, the attitude of the Sultan
exciting some apprehension of dissen-
tons that may again vex the great
European powers and involve them in
dangerous difficulties.
The causes which operate to retard
Improvement in commercial and in
dustrial affairs are also factor in de-
termlnlng the course and action of our
wheat market. which continues to tluc-
tuate rapidly within liberal range in
prices and to attract more speculative
interest than all other commodities
combined. The trade is being inau-
enced by a variety Of statistics. crop
reports and estimates sufficient to fur.
nish a basis for operations for either a
rise or fall in prices. and the market
moves rapidly IN conformity with the
trend of the daily news.
The weather. which has been favor
able Tor the growing crop over almost
the entire country, has exerted a bear
ish influence and emboldened a few
aggressive bears to attack the market
with vlgor. As quotations are lowered
they gradually gain allies whose COM
blned lines soon create a short interest
large enough to force rapid recoveries
from extreme quotations as soon as
ANYTHING bullish develops.
The demand for spot wheat for do
nestle and foreign use, which arises
on all the sharp breaks, soon alarms
shorts and inspires bulls with fresh
courage and furnishes the required
stimulus. This battledore and shuttle
cock game is likely to continue with
sufficient animation to proye interest.
ing until receipts of new wheat become
liberal enough to check if. While
bears are anticipating an unusually
early harvest in the Southern states,
they are alive to the danger Of over,
selling the market before the move.
ment becomes large enough to furnish
storage markets With liberal receints
and will probably continue to run in"
whenever the market acts strong Ths
crop in the southern states promises
an abundant harvest on A largely in.
creased acreage, but there is but little
assurance of its reaching central mar.