The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-25
GO n MER CIAL AFFAIRS.
MONEY MARKET.

Sunday, Dec. 24-6 r. M.
There has not been much life and activity in the
stock market during the week just closed, during
the week previous The of this is the increased
demand for money consequent upon the closing Of the
year, when payments usually large, and floating
debts liquidated previous to the opening Of new &C.
counts In consequence Of Christmas coming on Mon
day three days payment. into;the banks were ccen
trated into one and Saturday therefore pretty
tight day. This operated damper during the lat
part the week. and fancy stocks being more SEN
stive than anything else in Wall street. they first felt
the influence unfavoraby. The wretohed weather Of
the past three four days has also had tendency to
depress prices and the slight abatement in the Cali
ornis gold fever has operated against those specializing
for rise. The MARKET hewe7ez cloEed very firm, and
the general impression in the street is that
the holidays have passed. there will be more activity
among operators, and . further improvement in
prices Within tie past three weeks immense
amount of stock has changed hands, and it is q
very important question with the sellers whe'
Their the purchasers able to carry, for any
length of time all they now have on hand. The re-
cent speculative movement has brought into the
ket great many outsders, who have bought largely
of the leading fancies, and taken them out Of the
street. where they viii BIS kept until prices 60 above
current rates. With some exceptions, there is wide
margin yet left for advance; and with easy
money Market we see notnlng TO prevent tnat margin
from being covered Government and State securities
cannot go much higher believe they have already
reached their maximum, and II they remain stationary,
1t will be much holders can expect. When it is
borne in mind that there in the list securities as
safe those of the general State governme nts,
which will ultimately be far more productive selling
at ten fifteen twenty, and in some instances forty
per cent below their par vauet appears strange that
public stocks have reached such high point Produc-
tive railroad securities much better investments
than State stocks; their dividends not fixed, and
they are connected with the growth and business
of the country, that they must eventually prove
sources Of immense income; whereas the interest on
public stocks is fixed and unaterable, and amidst all
expansions in the currency and imitation in prices
admits of no improvement Railroad stocks are af-
fected by all the changes in the currency. If an
panson take place and prices for everything advances
the rate of fare is advanced in the ratio, and
those who depend upon Investments in such securities
for income end their increased in the same
proportion as prices for the necsssare, of life CO.
vernment state stocks pay elk and per cent ana
those who depend upon them for the means of living
find that ct times their incomes do mot go so far ia
pfovidpg for their wants, at others contraction
in the currency and scarcity Of money, are favorable
for such investme nts; while expansion and an
abundance Of money favorable for railroad invest
.mcnts, and all works that depend upon travel and
traffic for an income
The annexed statement exhibits the quotations fol
stocks in this market for each day of the psst week
and at the close Of the week previous. rrccs hav,
not VARIED materially but the tendency has be- n
mostly downward
QuorArIoS, rHN PRINCIPAL sTocK' IN TINE Nav