The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-28 00:00:00

M N 1 MARKET

AND

cOMMEROIAL 0:4 N €iS.

CITY, TwzLvl o'CLocK.
Money is still abundant in the private and
joint-stock banks, the Stock Exchange, and at
the Bank of England, and the market generally
exhibits the same features as for some time past.
Large supplies are held for the forthcoming
dividends payable at the beginning of the year,
as well as by all the private companies
as the Bank of England, amounting to many mil-
lions. There has been a larger inquiry for dis-
counts, both at the national establishment and in
other quarters, but the supply has been good, and
at rates fractionally below the minimum. Busi-
ness, however, in town and in the provinces is
absolutely quiescent ; the public are cautious
of investments, and there is a general dearth
of commercial enterprise. In most of the provin-
cial markets for manufactures stocks are, from these
causes, unusually low, and there is a general indis-
position to augment them from the smallness of the
demand. Anticipations are not very bright for the
forthcoming year ; but it is hoped that, as stocks
abroad are getting low, orders will come to hand
more briskly, confidence and credit be restored, and
greater prosperity ensue.
Messrs. Baring Brothers and Co. have received
by the mail the following remittances on account of
the New Granada dividends, viz. : £2,200 from the
Custom-house at Marta, and £420 from Barran-
quilla, making a total of £2,620.
The letters of allotment of the New Portuguese
Loan have been delivered. A large number of
transactions have taken place, and the price this
morning is
Atlantic and Great Western Railway Deben-
tures have receded to 20 21, but the Consoli-
dated Mortgage Bonds remain steady at 18 19.
The New Honduras Loan is steady at 1i 1, prem.
The movements of the preceious metals during
the past week have been on a rather extensive scale
as regards the imports, which have amounted to
about £594,116, including £28,000 from New
York by the Weser, £120,166 by the Persia,
£61,500 by the Etna, £12,300 by the France,
and £46,500 by the China. The Flamsted,
from Buenos Ayres and the River Plate, has brought
£65,000 ; the Anglesea, from Australia, £208,000 ;
the Ceylon, from Bombay, £10,719. About
£10,816 in gold has been received from Portugal,
and £31,115 in silver from the Continent. The
exports have been confined to remittances to the
Continent through private sources, estimated at
£88,828.
The sum of £lO,OOO in gold was taken to the
Bank of England yesterday. The China, from
New York, has brought £46,500 in specie ; the
Ceylon, from Alexandria, £10,719 from Bombay ;
aad the Anglesey, from Melbourne, had arrived
with £208,000 in gold.
With respect to the Scotch iron trade during the
year Mr. Thomas Thorburn gives the following
summary :—After a cycle of six prosperous years,
we have had one year without buoyancy in the iron
trade. When we reflect on the high price of corn,
arising from a deficient harvest over a great portion
of the world, and the disorganised state of the cot-
ton trade, the most important branch of enter-
prise in the United Kingdom—the cause of the
present depression in iron is sufficiently explained.
According to the ironmasters' returns, the quan-
tity of pig iron produced in 1867 is 1,031,000 tons,
showing an increase of 37,000 tons, when com-
pared with last year. The deliveries by railer ays,
the shipments, foreign and coastwise, combined
with the local consumption, are 1,068,000 tons, and
show a falling off, when compared with the
preceding year, of 68,000 tons. The stock of pig
iron in Scotland is 473,000 tons, exhibiting a
decrease of 37,000 tons as compared with 1866.
During the year the price has fluctuated from
51s. 6d., the lowest point to which it fell in July,
to 555. 6d., the highest attained in October, giving
an average for the year of 535. 6d. per ton. The
malleable iron works, the foundries, and ship-
buidiug yards, have felt increasing languor. Next
year will surely manifest a healthier condition in
the cotton trade, and we may reasonably expect a
lower range of prices for grain. Should these an-
ticipations be realised, there is no doubt the iron
trade will show an improvement.

Two O'CLOCK.

English Securities continue to droop, the princi-
cipal attention of the operators being mainly ab-
sorbed in the settlement now in progress in foreign
bonds and shares of all descriptions. There is
some depression on the Paris Bourse, which also
adds to the weakness discernible in the public funds.
Consols have been depressed throughout the morn-
ing, but at the last moment greater firmness is
apparent, the latest prices being 924 for money, and
924 for the January account.
The New Threes are 921 ; Reduced Annui-
ties, 921 11.; Exchequer Bills, 28s. prem. ; Bank
Stock 240 ; India 5 per Cents., 1111 ; ditto 4 per
Cents, 1001 ; Enfaced 5 per Cents., 1031; ditto
Debentures, 1882, 104 34; and ditto Bonds, 40s.
prem. _ _

In the Foreign Stock Market business has been
rather more active, but the variations are unim-
portant. Turkish 5 per Cents., have advanced f,
32k 331; Spanish Passive 1, to 25; 26} ; the 3
per Cents., 351 361 ; and Mexican 1, to 151 1 ;
Greek continue at 121 ; and Italian, at 441 1.

The New Portuguese Loan is 11 prem.
American Securities exhibit very little alteration

in prices.

Miscellaneous and Finance Shares exhibit no
change of importance. Atlantic Telegraph 8 per
Cents., however, have improved to 90, Hudson's
Bay Company remain steady at 15k, Peninsular
and Oriental Steam have advanced to 551, and
Viceroy of Egypt's Mortgage Loan is flat at 721.

In the Railway Share Market the settlement of
the accounts occupies the chief attention of the
dealers and speculators, and in a few instances
prices exhibit less firmness. Caledonian have been
very depreased and hive receded 2, Metropolitan
have declined 1, Midland t, Brighton I, and Great
Northern A Stock 1; while South Western have
improved I, and North Western 1.

The Foreign and Colonial lines remain with•
out any material change in values.

Bank shares continue flat. Anglo-Egyptian are
marked 17 ; Consolidated, 41 3.16 ; Imperial Ot-
toman, 9 1-16 3-16 ; London and Westminster,
69 ; and Union of Australia have improved to 511.

MINING MARKET.

SATURDAY, Two 11.11

Business in the mining market continues very
quiet. The shares chiefly in demand are Great
Laxey, Great North Laxey, Chiverton, and West
Chiverton. Annexed are the latest current quo-
tations :

East Clam Brea, ; Chiverton .Boor, 51 51; Chontales
Gold, 3111; Clifford Amalgamated, 51 6; East Basset, 9
11 ; East Caradon, 4/ 41 ; last Lovell, —; East Russell,
28. 80s; Frontino and Bolivia Gold, —s Od —s; Great
Lttioy,l7 18 ; Great North Laxey, 12s 6d 15s ; Great Wh al
; Marks Valley, ; North Crofty, 21 21; North
Treskerby, 29s 31s Od ; Prince of Wales, 48s Od 50s ; West
Basset, 2} 21 ; South Caradon —; South Frances, 23s 255;
Tincroft, 13 131; West Caradon, 10 11; West Oliver-
ten, 66 68; West Seton, - - ; Wheal Basset, 21 24;
Wheel Grenville, 244 265; Wheal Chiverton, 54 54;
Wheal Seton, 82 85 ; Groat South Tolgus, 20s 22s 61 ;
East Gunnis Lake and South Bedford, --s —s ; East
Wheal Grenville, 23s 255; Wheal Basset, —; West
Prances, —; Wheal Buller,

BRITISH FUNDS.--CLOSING PRICES.
, tic V ERNMENT FUNDS.
4 PBr Leon. Consols
Do. Account,
3 per Cent. Reduced 92/ I,
New 3 per Cent 921 k
New 21 per Cent. Jan. 1894 —
Do. 5 per Cent. dun. 1873 —
Aainuities, 80 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 —
Do. for 30 yre, expire sth April 1885 —
Do (Red Sea Telek,raph), Au,., 1908 —
E
---(truer Bills, £l,OOO, 2 &21 per Ct 25 pnt
.00 £5OO 2B pm
Do. £lOO & £2OO — pin
Bank of England Stock. 4} per Cent 240
Do. Account
INDIAN UOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
4diau stock, 10f per Cent., April 1874 —
Do. Account
Do. 5 par Cent. July, 1880