The New York herald., 1871-03-21
FINANCIAL and COMMERCIAL.
WALL TREET, I
MONDAY, March 20-6 Z. M.

On Change to-day wheat was active ami buoyant.
The cotton market was heavy and prices fraction
lower.
OUR FOREIGN TRADE FOR 1870
The statistics OF foreign trade for the 1870,
as just c0mpletei ana published by the bureau ar
Washington, AFFORD very interesting ana instructive
information. IL seems that the balance Of trade
against u.s. and for which we have settled
by specie exports TO the extent OF sos, 900,
was about $o7, 200, ,00o, and that the total
exports for the year were only about $200oo00 less
than the imports. II, however, we take into con-
sideraton that the stocks o imported goods stl In
warehouse at the close OF 1870 were nearly $4,000
greater than at the close OF lS69 is results
that we nave really overpaid Europe for the
goods introduced during the year, and that
we started at Inc beginning OF 1871 with
credit OF S2,000,000 IN our favor. Further
more, the year was oue III which, owing to the war
between France and Prussia, there was an unusual
drain OF specie from THIS country. the amount
taken having been Tom $50 900 TO $685. 00o, 900.
The annual specie product OF the country Is aboat
$60, 100000. therefore, as we must look upon
our gold ana silver as merchandise, we have ex-
ported Just about as much rs we imported. In 1869
the balance OF trade against Just 500 600 000
or nearly twice as large as In 1870. For this
difference we settled with 3i60O0000 in specie
and S54,O0o,o0o IN government bonds and other
American securities. Despite this satisfactory
reduction OF the adverse balance the imports Of
1870 were larger than ls8ovz, S46l 0S7 against
$l3S,5s5, 1894. These figures significant. They
should terminate the gloomy croaking OF those who
VIII not that the country Is growing richer
every year In face OF the draw OF deprecated
currency and a not over wise financial system.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE HIGHER
The leading bankers again advanced the rates for
sixty day sterling which they marked up
TO Ilo. The closing quotations were:-Ster-
ling, sixty days, commercial, 1904 l09&;
good to prime bankers, l094 ll0; do. short
sight, llo1S nos; Antwerp, 5l7}s t.12h; Swift.
zerland, 6.l64 5.121a; Hamburg, 357s 36'4;
Amsterdam 40ss a AZ; Frankfort, 40sS 4lla;
Bremen, 7sh 79.4; Prussian thaers, ia ~
MONEY MORE ACTIVE. - ,.s>-
There was rather better demand for money, but
rates on call were unaltered and continued TO be
quoted four TO five per cent stocks and four per
cent on government collaterals. Prime commercial
paper was dun at Ga per cent.
GOLD uNsETTLED-ll0B A l1lS.
The revolution IN Paris produced some unsteadi-
ness in tho London quotations for fve-twenties,
which were unsettled, within limit, however, OF
only a per cent. Tne fact sufficient, however,
TO arrest the weakening tendency OF the gold mar
ket succeeding the impression that Mr.. Boutwell,
VIII largely increase his bond purchases and gold
sales in April, particularly as the leading bankers
advanced the rates OF sterling. Had not the
latter influence been introduced it probable that
gold would have gone of again on the theory that
the revolution In France VIII put stop to the neg0
tation Of the new French loan In London and let
Mr.. Boutwell, introduce the United States loan with
better chances OF success The course OF the mar
laf &c G hnVgn n no tun1p