Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-21
COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL
Prices Hinge on Weather and Bullish SEN
timent Predominates.
MARKET SEMl-ACTW AND NERVOUS
Opening Bulge I'm wheat and Corn
and Close Leaves Figures Up-Oats
Advance, but Drop Back to
starting Point.

CHICAGO, April 19.-Fears in the minds
Of grain spectators over the weather con-
ditions produced another nervous market
today on the Board Of Trade. Bullish sem
timent predominated, though trade was not
brisk, and at the close May wheat had
gained Ad1sc and May corn lsqAc; May
oats stood unchanged. Provisions closed
unchanged to 20c lower.
Wheat was ruled by the weather. People
who sold late yesterday on the rumors of
rains bought in hurriedly at the opening
WREN dryness was reported again ana
caused a sha rp advance. The small north
western and primary receipts also caused
alarm to shorts and induced good buying
at times. traders. we're firm In the belief
that the whole future Of wheat prices
hinges on the moisture that may or may
not come to the relief of the winter crop
in the next ten days. For some days the
days go by without the needed rain the
situation grows more critical and complex.
Not only is the winter crop full Of dam
gerous possibilities, but the story Is now
pretty generally circulated that there will
be a very serious shrnkage In the area Of
spring wheat in the three northwestern
states. Cash wheat is growing scarce here
and in the interior, and this consideration
caused holders to stand firm today. No
shipping business was done here today and
the export demand at the seaboard was
early upturn, but exceptionally large clear
snces of wheat and ~four-IIS,0O bushels
together with the big bullish factors,
to h9Ssc advance at 741bc to 1850, and soon
sold to 74%c. A dip to Hkc followed on
proft,taking but the situation was strong
ceipts were 10 cars, none contract; Mime
apolls and Duluth reported 13 cars, a total
week and 800 a year ago. Primary receipts
were 198,OOO bushels, compared to $1,000 last
year. Australian shipments were 24S.0oO
els the corresponding. week a year ago.
Signs point to a marked decrease in the
worlds supply next week.
Corn tTada was 0nlV fairly active In
spots. The opening was hq%c higher in
sympathy with the wheat advance, but the
demand was not brisk enough to sustain
the better prices and selling was free with
the local crowd. After the opening bulge
the market became a scalping affair and
prices eased to last nights closing figures.
Statistics were still bullish, however, and
price of feed became something Of a bull
ish character. Cash offerings west contin-
There was some talk of a better movement,
but conservative traders persisted in the
ceipts here. Cables were Indifferent and
the sample trade was dull. May corn sold
at csc, eased on to &c and closed firm, u
Weather was the feature in the oats
market. Drouth and the higher prices pos
and corn aided In the advance. July and
September both had good upturns and held
there IL no longer a fear Of a corner in
changed at $c. Receipts. 1IS cars.
ruled in provisions, with pork
much lower, ribs inclined to follow pork
and lard fairly steady on packers sup
port. Liquidation and weakness of the hog
market, In spite of a small run of hogs
caused the declines. 1t was reported that
the weakness OF hogs was due to manipula-
ton by packers The grain strength was a
feeble offset. May pork closed zoe lower at
1860, May lard unchanged at 1915 and
May ribs ThQl0c down at 50. 12k.
Estimated receipts Monday: Wheat, 45
cars: corn, 100 cars; oats, 100 cars; hogs,
1900 head.
The leading futures ranged as follows: