The Indianapolis journal., 1899-12-18
ACTIVITY in PROVISIONS
SALIENT FEATURE OF THE PRO-
DUCE MARKET AT CHICAGO.
Boston Financial Disturbances Had a
Bearish Enect-AH Cereals but
Oats Closed at Declines.

CHICAGO. Dec. 1s-Provisions were con-
spicuously active on the Board of Trade
to-day, weakening on heavy profit-taking.
rrecipitated by the Boston financial diff
ficulties. May pork closed 2Oc. May lard.
121ac. and May ribs. 71zq1Oc under yester-
day. Wheat weakened on the government
report. but steadied on a better export in
quiry, May closing sc downi May corn
closed bGAc lower, and May oats un-
changed.
The activity of provisions was the feat
ure on the board to-day. The pit crowd
was large, and with few exceptions those
who composed it were sellers for profit, an
operation with which they fattened their
purses animatedly throughout the session,
TO the detriment of the price. The liquida-
tion was set going by the Boston financial
reports. Fluctuations were wide. particu-
larly in pork. The shipping demand was
as good ever. the hog supply small and
prices at the yards firm. Brokers were free
sellers of May lard, and holders let out
lines Of May pork and ribs. At the decline
the investment demand asserted ITSELF
steadying the market for a time. May
pork. having dropped 20c, regained half the
from S10.40 to Sl0.55, and closed 20c under
yesterday, at sl040: May lard from $5.65 to
$780, closing 1217c down at $50: May ribs
from $50 to $50, with the close 711q1Oc
lower. at $5.5Oq5.52k.
Wheat was weak the greater part of the
session, because the trade thought the gov
ernment report bearish. The Boston finan-
Cial decentralization also had a depressing
effect. The pit was quiet after the usual
Saturday manner. The South African news
was variously regarded, and the early ex-
port demand was not pressing. Receipts,
as usual, were light. May opened asQkc
down at 69Q69Ac, and sold down to 6S7sc
Here the market received some support
from buying against puts. under which the
price had slumped. and held steady for
scme time. Foreigners. who We're princi-
ral buyers throughout, towards the close
made their influence felt, and as their
moves were believed to reflect bullish de-
ductions from the tangled South African
situation, the locals raised their bids a bit
and shorts did some covering. The ship
ping demand also improved late In the
session. May advanced to 69hc. at which
the option closed hc under yesterday with
the tone of the market rather firm. Sea-
board clearances, in wheat and flour, were
equal to 506.000 bushels. Primary receipts
were $4,000 bushels. against 1.04s, 500 last
year. Minneapolis and Duluth reported 355
cars. compared with 469 last week and si9
year ago. Receipts here were seventy
nine cars, ten of contract grade.
Corn was easier, a condition due TO freer
country offerings. The market was dull
and of little Importance, nearly all the
trading being In the hands of professionals
The ship ping demand was rather sluggish
Celarances were COL, 400 bushels and receipts
here 268 cars. Local stocks are expected to
increase 10000 bushels. May ranged from
32isc to 33c, closing 1sdAc down at 33c.
Nobody seemed to notice the oats market
so trivial it was. May closed unchanged at
2442ilsc. Local receipts were los cars
Some increase in stocks here is expected
Estimated receipts Monday-Wheat, 60
cars; corn, $50 cars; oats, 120 cars; hogs,
900 head.