The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-18
FINAL PRICES BEST
NEW YORK STOCKS CLOSED FIRM
AND GENERALLY POINT
HIGHER.
GOSSIP OF GOLD EXPORTS
RENEWED ny AN ADVANCE IN AC-
TUAL AND POSTED STERLING
RATES.
BEARS MADE A SHOW OF ACTIVITY
Early Speculation Exhibited Irreg-
ularity, With Wide Fluctuations
in Some speciaIties.
BEARS MADE SHOW OF ACTIVITY

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE forenoon stock
speculation exhibited irregularity, and wide
fluctuations were noted in some of the lead
ing specialties, A further advance in actual
and posted sterling quotations, the effect Of
the failure of the Bank of England to advance
its rate of discount as had been expected
owing to the continual hardening tendency
of money in London, provoked renewed dis
cussion CT the probability Of an early resump-
ton of gold exports to Europe. Estimates
were current of probable shipment Of from
81, ,0000O0 to $4,000, 600 to Germany early next
week, in connection with the January inter-
est and dividend n~iigations. The margin
between sight and sixty-day reichsmarks ad-
mits Of a slight profit but the theory is gen
orally held that any brisk foreign demand
for gold bills would bring out heavy amounts
of boarded long sterling. Bankers generally
believe that a shipment of few million dol
lars in gold would be actual bull fac
tor, rather than bear argument and would
materially improve monetary conditions here
and abroad. The bears made show Of actv-
ity, and again paid special attention to the
Gould stocks, in which some liquidation was
believed to be apparent. Manhattan bore
the brunt Of the sales, and fell "a per cent
to 90, rallying to S1ss. The Rubber stocks
ruled exceptionally strong, the common Rub
OOl RS1 SOhl " @O14 OA IuAIOAS VI pAOO-
able early dividend. The adjourned directors
meeting to take action on the question will
be held next week. and street predictions as
to the amount of the disbursement ranged
from 1 to per cent.
The st. Paul statement for the second week
in December was considerably less unfavor-
able than had been figured on, and together
with the expectation Of the regular dividend
tomorrow by the Rock Island directors, in
duced covering and strengthened the railway
shares generally. Dealing IN the early aft
ernoon were largely confined to the special
ties. Tobacco, which had been neglected re-
Gently became active and sold up pa per
cent to 77H. The scrip rose 21a per cent to
20, but did not retain the improvement. The
rise was not attended by any news affecting
the property, and was attributed to inside
manipulation.
The news from Washington that the senate
will adjourn until Monday was hailed with
satisfaction, the traders arguing therefrom
that the chances of disturbance in connection
with the Cuban question had been minimized.
The grangers, Reading, Sugar ard Chicago
Gas were in demand on buying for both ac
counts, but chiefly for covering, and some
notable advances also occurred in some of the
low priced shares. Manhattan was quite err
ratio at the low level, but eventually jumped
is to 915s. Business was active on the up
grade, and final prices were the best. The
net gains averaged 1 per cent In the leading
shares.
Railway ponds were less active, but the
tendency of prices was upward and a brisk
inquiry was noted for the gilt edged issues.
The sales were 81 ,061, COO. The more i'm
portant advances ranged from l to "a per
cent the last in Northwest Sinking Fund
SKIES. Governments gained slightly on an
Investment inquiry, chiefly for the new fours.
The sales were $4,000 In state issues, Vir-
ginia centuries were strong. and active on
dealings of $58,500. The total sales Of stocks
today were 169S61 shares including: To-
baceo 5000; Sugar, 26,6O0; Burlington, 3O,-
400; Chicago Gas, $500; General Electric,
1000; Manhattan, il, 100; Reading, q, 700; Rock
Island, $500; St. Paul, 10, GOO; Tennessee Coal
& Iron, 4,9O0; Western Union, $500; Southern,
preferred, 8, 100.
The following were the fluctuations of the
leading railway and Industrial shares fur
nished by c. H. F. Smith G Co., members
New York stock exchange and Chicago board
of trade: