The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-05 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.
The Commercial Union Assurance Company's
report, to be presented at the ensuing annual meet-
ing, congratulates the proprietary on the satisfac-
tory position which the office has already attained,
and states that after paying the shareholders a
dividend of 5 per cent., the legal and other preli-
minary expenses have been fully discharged. The
premiums received for the fire department up to
Dec. 31 last amounted to £56,495 158. 11d., almost
wholly derived from home insurances. In the life
department for the eight months ending December
lest the receipts were £9,298 2s. 11d., of which
£5,245 Bs. sd. was the amount of premiums re-
ceived on 18) policies assuring £171,300. With
reference to the operations of the Company the
business of the fire branch is stated to be satisfac-
torily progressing; the premiums received so far
amounted to £22,000, exhibiting a large increase
over those taken in the corresponding period of
1862, while the losses estimated do nor, exceed
£6,800. The first year of the life breech ie now
completed, and the directors state that the pre-
miums received (exclusive of annuity consideration
money) have amounted to £13,869. The marine
branch was opened last January, and the premiums
under this head taken since that time have ex
seeded £29,000, whilst the claims only represent
£1,700. The whole of the capital celled up,
amounting to £225,000, has been fully paid up.
The report also states that upon the allo meat of
shares the directors considered it desirable in antici-
pation of an early formation of local and colonial
boards, to reserve 5,000 shares for future distribu-
tion, but as it is not at present contemplated to
establish such offices, it has been determined to offer
them at par, rateably, to the present shareholders.
The Skara (Norwegian) Silver Mining Company
is the title of a new undertaking just introduced,
under very favourable auspices, to the notice of the
investing public. The object is the purchase and
working of seventeen silver mines comprising an area
of more than 75,000 acres in the district of Skara,
which place lies a few miles to the westward of Chris-
tiana, the capital of Norway. The history of these
mines abundantly testifies to their metallic richness
and to the large revenues they have at various times
brought to the Government exchequer. It appears
that on the separation of Norway from Denmark in
1814, the Parliament of Norway took these mines
under its special care, and worked them with varied
success up to the year 1856, when it was resolved to
divide them into districts and call in the aid of pri-
vate enterprise. The average annual produce of
the mines worked by the Government during the
past 25 years has amounted to £55,110, while the
expenses for the same term have only represented
£10,910. The company will possess an exclusive
right in perpetuity over all the precious
Metals found in the district of Skara
for a nominal rent of about
£l6 r annum per
, and the arrangements for the trans•
fer of the property appears to be highly advan-
tageous, as the larger part of the purchase
money is to be paid by shares, which are only to be
entitled to dividends on the amount called up on the
other shares. The capital is to be limited to
£50,000, which it is proposed to raise by shares of
£2 each, and as the company, as already stated,
succeeds to the right of the original grant from the
King of Sweden and Norway, there is every likeli-
hood of its being early and fully subscribed.
A firmer tone is apparent in the general discount
market, owing to a slight increase of business.

Two O'. Rather less activity has prevailed to-day inCLOCK the
market for the English Funds, attention being so
much directed to the foreign department, where busi-
ness is exceedingly animated. The high range of
quotations now current in the English market tends to check speculation for a rises but rumerous
purchases are nevertheless effected, and buoyancy
is consFqucntly experienced. Soon after business
commenced this morning there was a rise in
Consols of 8 per cent, namely, to 939 94 for
money and the 7th instant, and to 94 9 for the ac-
bunt. This advance, however, has been followed
Y sales in real;.sation of profits, and a reaction has
oceurredt-, 931 and to 934 94 respectively. The
New Threes and Reduced Annuities remain fitm at
92t-;1, ; a tew transactions have taken place in the
New 2i per Cent. Annuities at 771, and in the 30
years ditto at 14 13-16ths, 15-16ths. Indian
descriptions also continue at steady quotations, the
5 per Cents. Loan being quoted at 1091 1109; and
the Bonds at 17s. prem.; Exchequer Bills are with-
out alteration at ss. to Bs. prem.
The Foreign Department again presented a very
animated appearance, and quotations have continued
to fluctuate to some extent. Turkish 6 per Cents.,
1858, have improved to 701 ; do., 1862, to 71
71, ;
~ Consolides, to 5314; Greek, to 329 7, ; do.,
Coupons, to 15 9 ; Mexican, to 361 a ; New Grenada
are 164 171 ; do. Deferred, 9a 10t; Peruvian, 89
90; Portuguese Scrip, 54 prem. ; Russian, 931 1 ;
Spat.-iish Passive have receded to 361 ; do., Certi-
tificates, to 11; 4 ; and Italian are 72 4. The Con-
federate Loan is 111 prem.
Increased firmness has prevailed in the Railway
Share Market. Caledonians and Great Westerns
have improved 10s.; Bristol and Exeter, 155.;
Midland 11 ; Great Northern £1 55.; and London
and Brighton, £2.
The Foreign and Colonial undertakings have
continued in fair request at steady prints. Dutch
Rhenish realised 17; Recife and San Francisco 17 ;
Great Western of Canada, 111 lla ; East Indian,
1091 110 ; Great Indian Peninsula, 1101 2 ; and
Punjaub, 108.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous shares are in
some instances at slightly higher prices, City
Bank realised 100 ; Bank of Egypt, 301; London
Chartered of Australia, 284 ; Peninsular and
Oriental Steam, 77; and Van Diemen's Land, 161.

BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Bank Stock,,,,
3 per Cent. Reduced
233
Annuities
per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities .... 93 4 3
New 21 per Cent. Annuities.. .
Annuities, 30 yrs, expire 6th Jan.BBo
IDitto for 30 yrs, expire sth .A.pril,l 1885. 14 13-16 15-16
ndia Stock ..............
Ditto 5 per Cent .................... --
.... 1104 9
Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent, ..... Ditto
5 per Cent .......... 1071
Ditto 51 per Cent
Ditto Debentures, 4 per Ct., Oct„ 1863 lOok
D f bonds tl.iltlU
Ditto under £l,OOO .... 17 pm
Consols for Account, May 7
Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO 21 per Cent.,., 8 5 4
Ditto £5OO
Ditto Small ..

FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Danish 4 per Cent., 1863
Ditto Scrip, £65 paid. ..•
17;
Egyptian 7 pet Cent
Ditto, Second Issue
Greek 5 per Cent., /824-5, ex-Coup)ns —
DittDitto Ameount..
o Coupons ............ ... .
Italian 5 per Cent. (Maremmana Railway) 771
Mexican 3 per Cent
......
Ditto Account..
14 i 161
New Granada .. 37 61 7+ 61
34
Ditto 2 per Cent 3
1 /
Ditto Deferrod lO 9 I 10
Ditto Land Warrants (Hectares) 7}
Peruvian 41 per Cent.
Ditto 4iper Cent, 1862 —
Ditto Account Hi 90
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853
Ditto Account
49it iiiii
Ditto S Ditto 1862
crip, £3O aid.....
Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, L St 9ll
?)!tto 4i per Cent. 1850
Ott:, 41 per Cent ~ 1860 ....
s . :!'t? 5 Per Cent., 1862
4,,,iniati 5 ,
Ditto 4 per Cent. . .......
spotit,h 3 ecount
1.4 per Cent .....
Ditto
Deferred
........ —
DDlitttt: pA:enc:ount
34671
6815 i 64, 3 6
lye
Spanish Cert. F ..........
Turkish 6 of not funded .... 111 12i 111 il2 11;
1854
Ditto Accountant'.
Ditto 6 per cei:ip; ....
DittO ACCOUTIL. s"'"
Ditto, ;ClOO Bond;
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1862 -
Ditto Account,
.......... de 7 ii, 1
Ditto Guaracteed, 4,
..... at.
Venezuela, 3 per Cent
Ditto Account
Ditto 6 per Cent., 1862 2-41 4
Dividends on the above pa;,a);i:i 561 1 5i
In London.
Dutch 23 per Cent., Ex. 12 Guil ....
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates
Italian, 5 per Cent., 1861, Ex. 25 fra.n.c.; ...21 1
Ditto Account
...... E7E2I4ILOCIi.
Consols, Money
931
kk
4)itto account