Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1900 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

New- York. the January interest and dividend disbursements, money lately has beep working somewhat closer, the rates this week having been jirmly held at SVL> to 6 per cent for both call and time loans. A higher money market is always to be expected in December, owing to the necessity on the pnrt of the banks at all the large financial centers to accumulate funds in preparation for the disbursements referred to, and the present year the demands on this nceount are much greater than usual. The anjmint to be distributed next mouth in the way of interest on bonds and dividends on stock is variously estimated at from $125,000,006 to $200,000,000. Business sentiment continues rather conservative. Prices for all commodities are being well held. Trade and manufacturing reports indicate a slow but steady and healthy growth in all directions.

-Chicago—Speculative markets on the Board of Trade suffered during the week for lack of business and at the end of Friday’s session prices were not changed materially from those ruling at the close of the week preceding. The trade was in large part confined to those handling the spot commodities, purchases or sales of the futures to an extent equal to their spot transactions being a necessary part of the business ns it i| now conducted. Speculation pure and Simple disconnected with the movement from producer to consumer was perhaps never for the same Jengtli of time so restricted as at present. Still the current price of wheat seems sufficient to attract supplies adequate ta consumptive requirements. There would probably be no great alarm for the future should the rate of farmers’ deliveries diminish to some extent, as is usual toward the end of the calendar year, seeing that any discrepancy in the movement from first hands can be made good readily from the liberal reserve in tht> visible- supply. Scarcity of contract corn has continued to keep the price of the nearer deliveries at a premium over the more remote, contrary to regular custom, and although the grade? immediately below the contract is of the usual shipping quality. Provisions ruled steady in spite of heavy receipts of hogs, the consumptive demand, both foreign and domestic, keeping pace with the man ufacture of the products.