Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1900 — Business Situation. [ARTICLE]

Business Situation.

Chicago Correspondence: The general tenor of the trade reports indicate that the movement of business is still large, and that prices for all the staples are being well maintained. In certain lines there is a little less eagerness to contract for forward delivery on the assumption that a presidential year always carries with it more or less uncertainty, but as a rule stocks are low and deliveries still backward. Business of the week in speculative grain circles v.as of normal activity, without being subjected to violent change from previously prevailing prices. The general tendency was to a somewhat lower range, but with prices already reasonably low holders displayed considerable reluctance to part with their property at any marked reduction. There being, however, an excessive supply at the moment, compared with the demand, prices were compelled to follow the inexorable economic law. Shipments of wheat from Argentina were never so heavy for the same period as they were last week, and European buyers appear to be able to buy on better terms than are asked by holders of American wheat. Unless there occurs a serious failure of some one or other of the more important wheat crops of the world that mature about July or August a permanent material improvement in price seems improbable. The price of corn yielded slightly, and some of its former friends expressed themselves less hopefully regarding its future.- than they had been doing for th% previous two or three months. Many who had bought corn when the May price was around 30 cents sold out at and above 35 eents and profess to believe deliveries from farmers will exceed the demand from shippers from now until the. start their spring plowing at least. During that time the expectation is the pressure of the immediate offerings will en«ble bulls who have sold at around 35 cents to buy back perhaps 2 cents above. The tendency of the stock markets during the week has again been downward. There is little pressure on the part of investors, but the traders who bought on the slump of last December have been taking their profits and practically no new buying has made its appearance. Special causes are largely responsible for the present condition of the market, and until these causes are eliminated it will probably be useless to look for any permanent improvement in the general list. Marcel-Habert, the colleague of Paul Deronlede, Paris, was found guilty cud sentenced to five years’ banlahmenL