Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-16
THE COPPER MARKET
BEGINNING TO SHOW THE I'M
PROVEMENT IN BUSINESS
CONFIDENCE.

The copper market has begun to show
the Improvement in business confidence
that came with the announcement of the
result of the national election. During
the three closing days of the week the
buying demand was considerably strong
err, and there were unconfirmed reports
OF sales Of Lake at II cents, says the
Boston Financial News.
The London market continued dull and
steady. Spot quotations were the same
at the opening and the closing of the
week, and only slight fluctuations oc-
Cured in the interim. Futures declined
Is. Cd. The export business in copper has
continued on a very good scale. 'S e
1t is understood that the largest pro-
ducers of copper will do what they can
TO prevent any morethan a very moderate
advance in market prices. They feel
that it is better that the price should not
approach theprohibitive point asst would
cause factories to be established at which
goods usually made of copper woul be
manufactured of iron and other cheaper
metals. While such goods would natur-
ally be driven out of the market when
the price OF copper declined again, there
would be, on the whole, a disturbance
of business which the largest interests
in copper desire to avoid.
THE best producers are now making
copper at a cost of from z to II cents per
pound, and the current market price,
therefore, gives them a profit OF from SO
per cent to 1875 per cent. This should
certainly be sufficient to satisfy the most
avaricious holder of copper stocks. It is
not at all certain, however, that the
large producers Will be able to prevent
a sharp advance in prices. If the de-
mand continues to increase as it prom
Uses, the mines cannot make copper asst
enough to keep down prices. 1t must be
remembered that there has been no cur
failing of production to bring about the
advance from 10 to II cents. The mines
have been worked to their full capacity.
and though every nerve Is being strained
to make more copper, it is the best opin-
ion that the worlds output this year will
not show as much as the average an
nua increase of 10 per cent.
In their copper circular issued on the
1st inst, James Lewis & Son, the Liver
pool, England, metal brokers, say:
There was practically no change in
the public stocks during the past month,
though the visible supply diminished Alt
tons. 2,S24 tons fine have arrived in
England and France from Boleo, and the
shipments from the United States to Eur
ope promise to- be about II 500 tons.
Refined copper is in less active de-
mand in Birmingham, best selected in
gots being held for G79, and tough cake
for G7S per ton, usual terms. 400 tons
Of ingots have been purchased by the ad-
miralty. High conduotivity wire bars
are in request and command full prices,
while catholics sell in Birmingham atG79
los. There is an improved demand from
Germany and France for electrolytic cop
per, and the consumption of this quality
in England continues to increase.
Lake copper is quoted 1914 to 1875
cents per pound in New York, where an
active demand from is ex-
pected. Some of the largest producers
are stated to be sold out until the end
Of the year. A quantity of lectrolitic
sold to Europe has been brought back.
.Insports are all tons and deliver
les 13. 234 tons greater to date han dur
ing the same period last year. The to-
tai arrivals in England and France for
the month ave been 1882 tons, and the
deliveries IA, 1893 tons fine. Stocks have
decreased 81 tons, and the visible supply
All tOnS,"