BRITISH TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 4

BRITISH TRADE.

STOCK EXCHANGE QUIET. SPECULATORS ABSENT. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 30. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that the markets might as well be closed, business is so slender. The revised version of the defence contribution robbed tbem of every shred of interest. Meanwhile the forces against the tax are massing. A Conservative motion for the rejection of the Finance Bill is unlikely to be carried, as it would mean the overthrow of the Government, but it is hoped that the fact that an influential section of the party has taken this extreme course will impress Mr. Chamberlain. The attack is likely to be supported from all sections of the House. Even Labourites, who favour the taxation of profits, consider the defence contribution the clumsiest way of doing so. Commodities are also quiet and tended to drift downwards through absence of speculative interest, Early summer is normally quiet, so that any marked revival in the near future W improbable. Rubber especially is disappointing in view of the strong statistical position. Malayan production in April was well <lown compared with March. Butter Trade Lifeless. Butter is lifeless and barely maintained present values, though there is no selling "preesure:- ' The Whitsun bolidays, repercussions of the bus 6trike and the threatened coal .strike led buyers to hold off the market. Some, livening in interest may now be expected..