Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-16
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
REPORTS FROM ALL GREAT BUsl-
NESS CENTRES OF THE WORLD.
Prices of Money, Bonds, stocks'
Grain, Tobacco, Cotton, Cnttie'
Country Produce, &C., Foreign
and Domestic.

NEW YORK. January 15.-The feellhg
in stock circles to-day was more confi-
dent than for some time past mainly
owing TO the remarkably favorable state
ment Of the foreign commerce OF the
country for the month Of December, ana
the calendar year 1896, the steady IN
crease in the Treasury gold reserve. and
the superabundance Of money both here
and in London. These influences nave
apparently served to stimulate interest
not only in investments, but also in the
speculative markets. They have in
duced the recognized bulls TO take a
fresh hold, and, at the same time, have
frightened the shorts. The latter made
active efforts to cover, and their pur-
chases. together with a fair demand tor
foreign account, helped along the rising
tendency of prices.
The market was strong from the open
ing to the closing of the session, the deal
ings having been better distributed
than of late, and the advances in prices
having been general. No attention was
Maid TO the Cuban trouble, which. for
the moment, has been relegated TO the
background.
The inward movement In Sugar gained
additional force from the announcement
OF q further advance in the prices OF
refined. and from advices from Wash
ington that, If any change is made In
the tariff on sugars, 1t viii not be de-
trimenta TO the interest OF the sugar.
reaners. The contest between the Amer
ican Sugar Company and Arbuckle Bro
thers. in which there are 10 signs OF
The commission houses reported mere
numerous orders for stocks for outside
account. although it is admitted that the
business is still, to large extent, pro-
rossionaI The transactions aggregated
ol4 4g4 shares and the advance in prices
vas equal to 1-i02 Ia per cent, the lat
ter i'm Wheeling and Lake Erie pre-
ferred which sold up to l41-4, on re-
norris OF negotiations for the settlement
Of the soft-coal rate-war. The Changers,
louisville and Nashville. Manhattan,
,rennessee Coal and Iron. Western Union,
and Chicago Gas were conspicuous, both
in point OF activity and advance. The
last-named was materially strengthened
bv a statement made by Ex-Governor
Flower that the regular quarterly divi-
dend of IL per cent. will shortly be de-
clared. and also by a growing belier that
the Illinois lCSisldlult Will ltiihiN tAS
constituent companies comprising the So
called trust TO consolidate.
The market closed strong, and at the
ton prices Of the day. Net changes
show advances Of 1-2q2 per cent, Man
haitian leading. In the specialties, Illi-
nois Steel jumped 3. to 81.
Bonds were active and strong. The
transactions footed up s2.2i9,Uo.
Treasury balances: Coin, $i226'S,5OS; cur
rency, sis,s24,s0S
MONEY AND EXCHANGE.
Money on call easy, at 1-242 per cent;
last loan at l-2, and closing offered at
10. Prime mercantile paper, l-iqS "a
per cent. cut, -
quiet. ~ $50,
business in bankers bills at A.Si S-4gSiS5
for sixty days. and N.S i-2gSLS "a for
demand Posted rates. Sls5 1-2gSLSS IL
Commercial bills. si.8 l-4Qs4.A.
Government bonds firm. State bonds
dull. Railroad bonds stronger.