The age-herald., 1898-12-18
I- welt s,rco-.

fr Walf NtFPe-
 New York, December 17.-The market to- day opened firm, with rise of a point in Union Pacific. Later the irregularity in London, which had been ignored in the ini- tial trading. was an influence locally There was sharp break in the vanderbits, Lake Shore losing and New York Central and Canada Southern over a point. Local trac- tion shares were off sharply. especially Metropolitan and Manhattan. Missouri Pa cifc also weakened decidedly. There was considerable strength in other spots, South ern Pacific, Central Pacific, Denver pre- ferred and Pittsburg, c. c. & St. L. shares showing irmness. In the second hour the downward movement was rather uniform.
 In the final dealings, however an inn provement set in, in which Baltimore and Ohio and Lake Erie and Western stocks recorded substantial advances The aver age declines were less than 1 per cent. The bank statement, which was more favorable than was expected, was later than usual in making it's appearance. but it's influence helped the closing rally. This wass the largest week on record for transactions in stocks and bonds, the sales of stocks being above four and quarter million shares and those of bonds nearly forty million dollars. The variety of stocks and bonds dealt in was also greater than ever before. The market bulged early in the week. mak- ing high-record prices. Later the movement was more hesitating and irregular some stock advancing, while others declined. Aside from the temporary requirements for January dividends, money promises to continue at reasonable rates because of the large trade balance in favor of the United States, due to an excess of exports iri9five noA Ah zon seemed clear, but the money and 5aoRn market continued to be watched narrowly, and as long as there was cause for alarm securities were bought confidently Grf5sS traffic statements were very gratify ing,~the feature being the marked increase in west bound tonnage, which included a greater percentage of manufactured articles. Fa- vorable railway returns from some sections which had reported falling off for a long time aroused considerable cheerfulness, and round amounts of stock were taken in an ticipation of favorable net results. London operations were watched with considerable interest during the week, owing to the va riety tendency of the money market, which showed an. appreciable hardening toward the close. The disposition abroad except ing Berlin, however, was more favorable to American railroads. and the net result of the arbitrage purchases was in favor of the bulls. The local commission house bus lntSS WdS nedNyf l1lttTtSI idTBely CeHteTliS in railroads. The bulls from time to time took up one stock after another, and raised each in turn in most cases to record figures. The story about the acquisition of Chicago and Alton by various railroads In each in- stance gave strength to the property sup posed to have acquired the Alton. Although it was understood that the property was on sale on favorable terms, no deal took place as far as is known. but 1t was all ways the last story that found believers. The coalers responded to cold weather con ditions and to gossip that a trade agree ment, beginning with the new year, would restrict the output of both the Anthracite and bituminous coal properties. Sugar was unusually wild. and dropped points. Among the other Industrial properties trade conditions played an important part. with prices rising strongly in response to en- couraging statements.
 Features of pronounced interest developed in the bond market daily. and purchases of semi-speculative issues were in an enor- nous volume.
 United States As coupon advanced F, the old As coupon and the new SIS $. the old As registered and 5's A. and the 2's regis tered & per cent in the bid price,