The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-16 00:00:00

HONEY MA RK er.--(T'iluti DA i.)

Oxs o'Osom

The stock markets are decidedly firm to-day, in
consequence of the favourable character of the re-
turns of the Banks of England and Franoe,
and the prospect of a large amount of
gold being taken to the former establishment
during the next few days. It is inferred, therefore,
that the rate of discount will be reduced at an early
date. The funds continue in demand, and show a

fresh rise of i per oent. Some of the foreign stocks
sad British railways are also better, as well as the

shares of several of the financial and discount ooni-

paniee.
The demand for money to-day is moderate, but

owing to the circumstance that a large amount of

Indian and Australian paper falls due to-morrow,
the lowest charge for discounts is still 7i to 8 per

Lt. The rate for short loans in the Stock Ex-
change is 7 to 8 per cent.
The changes in the Bank of France return are
very satisfactory, and fully aooount for the reduc-
tion in the discount rate of that establishment.
The coin and bullion have increased 600,0001•
while the bills discounted have diminished to a lace
extent.

Consols are now quoted 87} to f for money, and
871 to 88 for the accouat (March 8).
Foreign stocks are firm, with a good amount of
business. Mexican bonds are in chief request,
and have risen 1 per cent. Turkish of 1865,
113Panish Ocrtdficiatss, and Brazilian and Egyp-
tian scrips have also improved }. The
quotations are as follows :—(reek, 13} to 14 ;
Mexican, 23} to ; Spanish Passive, 261 to 27} ;
ditto Certificates, nt to 16 ; Turkish, 1865, 38}
to f ; Brasilia snip, 2 to f prem. ; Egyptian
scrip, 1 to 1 prem. ; and Italian, 1861, 60k to /.
United States 5-20 bonds and Erie Railway
shores are slightly firmer, at 68} to f and 521 to
53} respectively; but Illinois Central have declined

t, viz. to 751 to it.
The Sir John Lawrence has arrived from Sydney
with 59,0001. in gold, and the Moravian, from Port
Phillip, with 10,5001.
International Financial shares are now quoted
tot prem., ex div. ; General Credit, I to It
prem., ex div. ; London Financial, to die., ex
div. ; Imperial Mercantile, to It prem., ex
div. ; Credit Fonder and Mobilier, St to prem. ;
Overend, Gurney, and Company, 41 to prem. ;
and Joint Stook Discount, 61 to 151 din.
The shares of Charles Lafiltte and Co. are
nominally quoted 3 to St prem., and Mont Cenis
Railway 1 to n prem.
The accounts of the Bank of England, as shown
by the return published last evening, are deathly im-
proving, and though it has rather lost then gained
gold upon yesterday's transactions, it may be useful
to repeat that the bullion movement on the whole is
as favourable as tart reported, and that a consider-
able amount of gold will probably be sent in during
the next few days.
The Stock Exchange Committee have appointed
Tuesday, the 20th instant, a special settling day in
the scrip of the Egyptian Government Railways
Debenture Loan, which is to be marked in the
official list.
Only 8,0001. in bar gold was sent into the Bank
yesterday, but a considerable amount is expected to
be taken there to-day out of the recent arrivals,
which are being refined. On the other hand,
20,000 sovereigns were withdrawn yesterday for
Alexandria, but this is an exceptional operation. •
The bar silver by the West India packet was sold
yesterday at ss. Otd. per ounce, showing a decline
of as much as id. compared with the rice ob-
tained for the previous supply, and of d. from
that current on Wednesday. As al y men-
tioned, the depression of the market for this
metal is caused by the falling off in the de-
mand for the East. The Mexican dollars by the
Shannon, as well as those by the steamer La
France, were also disposed of yesterday for refining
at 4s. Aid per ounce, being d. below the rate
realised for the last remittance. In the interval the
quotation has been nominal, with little or no busi-
ness, there being no demand for China. The
absent* of demand for Mexican dollars in this
market is understood to arise partly from the cir-
cumstanoe that remittances of silver are now being
constantly made from California to China on Eng-
. lish account.

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway traffic,
return shows this week an increase of 5,5201 over
last year ; the Manchester, Sheffield, and Linooln-
shire an increase of 3,5121. ; the London, Chatham,
and Dover, including the Metropolitan Extension
and branches, an incresas of 1,6761. ; the Metro-
politan Extension an increase of 5001. ; the Kent
Cloest an increase of 1901. ; the North Eastern an
Increase of 6,0861. ; and the North British an in-
crease of 1,5011.
The Contract Corporation have made a call of
Si. per share, payable on the 14th of next month.
Mr. W. S. Dixon, of the Govan Iron Works, Glas-
gow, and Mr. Isaac golly, of Enfield, have joined
the board.
The directors of the Oriental Commercial Bank
(Limited) have issued the following repoi
to be presented at the general meeting on the 220 d
inst. It shows profits at the rate of 23 per own.
per annum :
The directors have much pleasure in reporting that the
profits of the bank for the six mouths end's; 31st Decem-
ber last, after swami of all charges, salaries, remuneration
to directors, kc., ore 19,6271. 13s. 2d., being equal to 23 per
cent. per us= on the amount of paid up capital rookie;
for dividend. The directors now declare an interim divi-
dend for the pest de months at the rate of 10 per cent. per
annum, clear of income tar, which will absorb 8,5001.,
having balance 11,1271. 13a. 24. to be carried forward,
for appropriation at the end of the financial year io June
serf. The above result of the six months' operations fur-
nishes sufficient proof of the increasing prosperity of the
bank. The directors woold remind the shsraholdess that
this result has been obtained without the eniatasee of the
additional capital of 125,0001., shortly falling du from the
Fie/medal Corporation. This sum whoa received and em-
ployed in extesdieg the business of the bank must tend
sUll further to imesolidate and strengthen its position, as
well as augmenttits future profits.
An extraordinary general meeting of the Provin-
cial Banking Corporation (Limited) will be held on
the 23rd instant, to confirm the resolutions passed
on the sth instant for altering the articles of spec-
elation.
The annual meeting of the North British and
Mercantile Insurance Company is called for the sth
of March, at Edinburgh.
A general meeting of the Wallachian Petroleum
Company (Limited) is called for the 26th instant.
The annexed memorandum is from the Madras
Railway Company :
The traffic reeeipth oa the Beath-Wei file ON miles
epee) emanated for the quarter ending the 31st December
lass to 101,2581., or 2061. per mile, against 85,3011., or
1731. per mile, far the corresponding three months of the
year before, the mileage remaining the same, On the
North-Wart line the receipts for the quarter have bees
20.0141.. on 119 miles open, or 1681. pee rails, against
70911. on 79 miles open, or 901. per mile, for the same pe-
riod of the previous year. The two lines together show
as increase on the quarter of 40 miles, or 7 per cent. ie
length of way open, and 28,8801., or 311 per cent. in the
receipts.
The King Lear, belonging to the Merchant
Shipping Company, has arrived with a cargo of
2,500 tons of Peruvian guano, and a few tons of
ootton, dra, having made the passage from Callao
In 98 days.
Subjoined is Mews. Colverwell, Brooks, and
Cio.'s report of yesterday's hide sales :
Al the third eerie" of hide sales for the you there VS4
sa improved hfo ell rhooriptions; the home trade
were base buye
r
s
.
eadexpertere operated to • moderate
=test; edvaeeed priseseme teethed for salted hides sod
kips. Sat India--Or sod Cow :Caleatts were In good re-
quest, particularly for Deem sorts. Priem on the average
areabout Id. to id. pro lb. higher, except for vevy common
descriptiosa, whisk 'sly realiaed late Isla. There was a
good home demand, and a moderate inqu far export
Madrea, 3e., sold wed. The analysie c 4 the is 80,125