The New York herald., 1870-12-20

military vigor and OF brilliant French sortics at Paris
failed TO awaken any sp eculative enthusiasm, and
the market closed as 1t opened The changes on the
two 1gures or The day are shown in the table,
40 a. M;......... i1oA 2P M......... 1loh
IL Nj ............. llos. 4P. M........ 1lo&
l p M........... 1loal 5:3oP. HOS a lloM
In the gold loan market the rates ranged from two
to five per cent for carrying the operations OF the
Gold Exchange Bank were as follows:--
Gold cleared. f34, 1856 900
n 1o,a balances. ............,........ !,a2641
.u'tehos oaiahceS.... .................. lolo,2i5
GOVERNMENTS STRONG.
There was rather more animation in the govern
ment market and prices were faverably Influenced
by the cable quotations from London especially as
gold was so steady. The Improvement was more
visible In the ISG2's than in the rest or
the list, but the tone OF the whole
market was firm. The currency sixes which
mad been largely held by parties anticipating
a market for them, when the close OF the year
should occasion large purchases by capitalists ana
corporations seeking to evade local and State taxa
tion and which were the weakest and lowest of the
list during the recent 'breakn in the stock market
have as suddenly recovered and were notceably
strong and In request to-day. The following
were the closing street prices or the govern
ment list:-Unired States currency skies, 11ols
a HOY; Uulted States sxes 1881, registered,
1092s a 10; do. do coupon, sll3t4 ll3's;
do fvc-twenties, registered, May and Novem.
ber 1878 1919; DO do, 1862, coupon, do, 1O7sl
1919; do do. 1864 do. do. 1o7t1 1079&: do do.
1866, do do 1879 1879; do do. registered jan
uary and July. 1863 1867; do. do, 1865, coupon
do, 1895 a 1924; do. do 1867, do. do, 1o92s
10: do. do. 1863. do DO. llO 1losI: do. ten-for
ties, registered 1865 1865; do do, coupon. 1868
q 1868.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE WEAK.
The foreign exchange market was quiet aud Gull
on the basis OF 100 1885, for prime bankers sixty
days sterling and 109zs 10 for sight bills. These
rates were nominal, actual sales having been made
OF prime slxty-day bils at 100, less brokerage.
There better supply OF cotton bills on the
market and bankers rates were weak.
STOCKS FEvERIsH AND IRREGULAR.
The stock market is convaescing from the recent
violent agitation and hence presents the rreguar-
ties and vagaries natural to such condition The
contendlng parties to the recent conflict were ma
nnuvrng to-day rather than making any positive
demonstrations. Meantime prices were alternately
weak and strong, according as the speculative feel
ing was guided by the course OF the money market,
with which it was in complete sympathy. The
leading shares which are most sensitive to changes
OF speculative opinion underwent four general
movements-viz., from strength to weakness, and
thence to strength, alternating the same way once
more WltH u STOHT market AZ tne close. Ile
activity in money early in the forenoon provoked
the first decline, especially it was feared that the
''bear'' cliques had not abandoned their Intention
OF making and keeping the money market
stringent. Northwestern common, which has
been one OF the objective points OF their
strategy all along, fell about two per cent from the
opening price. and the general list an average OF y
a q per cent. AT its lowest 1t was well above
the lowest prices made in the decline last week,
which fact has given rise-o the opinion among the
calmest spectators OF the present situation that
prices are not far from 'hard-pan,r and that the
s.bears" are fighting stone wall
which may shatter their forces. At the
same time they are very proud of their
recent achievements, and Keep up their
threats OF further raid, which shall plunge the
market far below the prices OF last Saturday mora
ing New Jersey Central, which to 10s on Satur-
day evening" opened this morning at 1879, and
under tie sale Of $500 shares at the Board declined
TO 1915. This transaction started shower Of sales
during the rest OF the day and the price at one time
fell to 1854, from which 1t again at the close to
1867 Z, the report that the directors had declared
scrip as well as a cash divi lend
at their last meeting although the latter only was
announced. Another rumor traces the fluctuations
in the stock to-day to the varying phases OF the
prospect OF lease OF the road to the Pennsylvania
Central Railroad. New York Central scrip rose 10
ss1. on a vague repoit that the directors intended
converting it into flty.year six per cent bond,
for the redemption OF which the difference between
o per cent gold and s per cent currency, or such
other dividend as might be declared on the stock
annually, would be devoted to sinking fund.
Western Union Telegraph sold at 46}s on the an
nouncement from Washington that a movement was
in progress In Congress to revive the Postal Teie
graph bin OF last year, with amendments providing
for the purchase of existing private lines.
THE EXTREME FLUCTUATIONS.
The following table shows the extreme huctua-
tions or the leading active stocks:-