The age-herald., 1898-03-05
Tn Wan Street,

New York March 4.-Prices of stocks show losses of from 1 to points today on d very small business. The market was quite inanimate at times and what busi- ness there was, was conducted in few leading stocks. All of these showed weak ness, but the downward course was pur- sued in a very desultory manner until the final hour, when the bears made quite determined drive. They broke the price of Reading four points and carried the gen. era1 list to the lowest of the day and the covering in special stocks induced some sharp rallies, notably in Reading first pre- ferred, New York Central and Metropolitan Street. Higher quotations from London lifted the level of prices at the op5nine, but the fall was practically uninterrupted afterward. Efforts to rally the market was feeble and unsuccessful. Sugar was under considerable pressure, but showed good resistance. Union Pacific preferred was de- pressed all day and closed oyer points lower. New York Central fell at one time over points, but rallied IF In the final trading Local traction stocks were suf- ferers, the extreme decline in Metropolitan Street Railway reaching nearly points. The Changers also figured largely in the selling A large part of this selling was known to be for Washington account and inquiry was very keen for news to account for 1t. Significant news was scarce and In it's absence number of rumors were set IL warships abroad had, been made by the United States government. The renewed depression of Spanish securities abr ad and the news of the purchase in England of two warships by the Spanish govern ment helped on the feeling of uneasiness over the Cuban situation London opera tors in this market were insignificant, the tightness of money in London having ap- parently put stop to speculative activity here. Notwithstanding the hardness of London money rates and the tendency to relaxation in the local requirements Of foreign exchange were lower again today demand sterling falling to &S4B-
 Nearly all the S2 S00,o00 in gold which will start for New York tomorrow comes from Paris and no small part of 1t is said to represent French payments or the American securities bought in London during the recent disturbances in Paris The weakness in exchange is due to the continued pressure of grain R5ills sold against the shipments of Sne Chicago wheat pool.
 The bond market was listless and heavy today in sympathy with stocks. Total sales $2,625. 900.
 United States fours and the old fours coupon were 15c lower bid today.
 The total sales of stocks, S01 ,50O includ- ing: Baltimore and Ohio, 4.224; Chicago. Burlington and Quincy, 17.475; Louisville and Nashville, 4,50O; Manhattan. @,SOO; Metropolitan 71S5; Reading. 3515; Mis- souri Pacific, 3,412; New York Central, 13,- 954; Northern Pacific. preferred, 13,050; Reading, 3.012; Rock IsIland, 11,770; St. Paul, 26.565; Union Pacific, 7.365 Tobacco, 5,610; Suga, 4S,941
 Money on call firm, 2@218 per cent; last loan 2 per cent.
 Prime mercantile paper 4@41s per cent.
 Sterling exchange weak. with actual bills in bankers bills 4S4B for demand, and at 4811s6D4S1% for sixty days.
 Posted rates 4S3@4s51h.
 Commercial bills 4Sa4c.
 .|| '|: < $ | | <:
 Silver certificates 54ls@54fe. fe
 Bar silver 5414c.
 Mexican dollars 45c.
 Government bonds weak. ~
 State bonds dull.
 Railroad bonds weak.