Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-22
live STOCK PRICES
SHOW FlRMER TONE
Pork, Sheep and Lamb Mar
kets Give Signs Of
Higher Values.

The most profound theory 10 little
better than . guess in the current live
stock market, but 1t could be Just q
bit more than possible that the long
profltleSs porker has sold abOMk 20 low
as he Is going TO this season.
For one thing, the market "a turn
ing up . better grade Of hogs-as the
farmers are feeding more grain. Too.
packers soon win begin fllling their
storage plants with meat for next SUM
mer's sale. And, underlying all, Il the
natural tendency Of hog prices TO rise
about this time Of year.
It Is . queer phenomenon. Prices
rise as receipts increase and the slump
attended by light offerings.
Last year Is good example, regard
less OF whether q disturbed economic
condition win prevent repetition this
season. When hog prices hit the low
point--&9.O2, the second week In No
vember-Federa1 inspected slaughter
accounted for but 4T6,O00 animals.
From then on the slaughter figure
mounted until it reached o peak of
$4,000 head for the second week in
December, and prices advanced with
the increased receipts. III
For several weeks now hog prices have
been under last years low. That was
expected because Of general depression.
But this week the top Of hogs slipped
TO $8.15--the lowest top since July.
1924. The bulk Of receipts sold &C prices
still lower than that. If, In this market
that has been largely an exception 10
the rule, the upturn starts from the low
time, this week would seem to have pre-
sented an excellent opportunity.
However. from now until the new year
demand has To- a.
be the price-fixing factor. Receipts fell
on 1000 head at IL principal markets
this week and stili prices declined IS TO
90 cents under q week ago until week
END buying added q stronger tone. The
closing trend was upward in the face
OF . dragging fresh pork market, which
weakened Chicago and New York whole-
sale loin prices.
sheep and lamb Market.
A point questioning the seasonal ad-
vance In hog prices this year Is the
anticipation Of larger slaughter in
December than for the same period in
1929. It Is dificult, CONSIDERING the
unknown buying power Of the con-
sumner, to determine the saturation point
even In normally large ahsorptive
season.
After one Of the toughest years in
A4aScoAJ, 80 0en0Chcu ~ ~ Was VIII M
creased numbers, the sheep and lamb
market has become the bright spot Of
the livestock business. The glow was
superinduced by slash OF 127, 900 head
In receipts which normally had been in-
creastng week on end. Fat lambs went
20 cents higher on unsurpassed actiy-
ity in the closing sessions and dressed
lamb ruled firm 10 slightly higher.
Wnetner the SHIFT indicates anything
permanent Is not apparent.
The cattle market still has flabby
and indispensable undertone. There
were $1,000 fewer head marketed ti1,s
week, but almost all classes shared n
declines that ranged from Is to rs cents.
Weighty steers, alone, were steady to
20 cents up-and that doesn't indicate
q thing. For weeks the supply 81 these
wen finished steers has been dwind1fn@
and prices have been going right on
down. The week may have only un-
covered low spot in stocks, which ct
best 60 to q limited trade, or receipts
may have narrowed suficiently to In
Ject little buyer competition.
shipper demand for cattle has been
relatively small In response to q sI1R-
glsh beef trade and the weakening In
huence OF the poultry season Is seen I'D
both the live and dressed markets. The
country, for the time at least, has be-
come very Indifferent toward heavy
feeders and Is showing no particular
1ondness Tor light stcckers unless they
are choice kinds.
Finishers at present appear to be con.
verted to the policy OF rapid turnovers.
and since they bought feeders Ia the
Summer at bargain prices they are
ready TO turn them loose quickly IN
order TO obtain the profits that are
possible now on their feeding Operations.