MARKETS FAIR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 127, 11 May 1936, Page 7

MARKETS FAIR.

Have Come Out Creditably From Trying Week.

FEARS FOJR FRANCE. f jo/bcoii i -wx a vTEv/ "- ;l 9 7 ■* * ‘ Press Association—Copyright. London, May 9.

It is generally agreed that the markets have come out creditably from a trying week. The Abyssinian debacle has not proved an important factor. Fears for the franc resulted in an inevitable jump in Kaffirs, but industrials were not affected, the city inclining to the view that devaluation will not seriously affect the British export trade, for such large . sections of the European market are now controlled by quotas and other restrictions.

The apparent weakness of the wool sales is misleading, for much wool has been withdrawn, not because it did not receive bids equal to the best of the last series, but because sellers were confident of higher offers. Some, indeed, disposed privately of considerable weights at the full reserve price. The absence of French competition was largely responsible for irregularity, and Russia and Germany were also 'indifferent. Bradford refuses to regard the irregularity tragically. On the contrary it considers it is a healthy corrective to unrestrained optimism and famine talk in certain quarters. Before the sales Bradford’s view of the healthiness of the market was reflected in the topmakers’ refusal to lower quotations. Fruit is weaker because of heavy arrivals. Recent shipments, especially in the Albion Star and the Raranga, were inclined to be unsatisfactory. Fruit from one hold of the Raranga was over-ripe and defective, prejudicially affecting the market.

The meat market has turned slow and prices are sagging. The statistical position of stocks, however, is sound, the cold weather dispelling fears that heavy arrivals of chilled beef will be beyond the capacity of the market.