Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-17
STOCKS LESS ACTIVE.
A VERY STRONG UNDERTONE. HOW
EVER, IN EVIDENCE.
SPECULATION At FIRST LIGHT.
A Number of Hitherto Neglected
stocks Tnkcn Up. Later on, and Al
vanced sharply-Wheat Strong and
Higher-Provisions Decline.

NEW YORK, December 1.-THE trading
to-day resulted In only trifiing changes
In prominent stocks. The speculative pur-
pose of England was evident on both
sides Of the market, with purchases on
balance slightly In excess of sales
Trading locally was less active than Of
late, but very strong undertone was In
evidence. The traders seemed largely on
the short side, where there was buying
by commission-houses and pool support
Speculation during the afternoon was very
light. The market became dull, with the
cancellation Of orders in commission
houses. In the afternoon a number Of
hitherto neglected stocks were taken up,
and advanced sharply. Pittsburg, Cinctn-
natl. Chicago, and st. Louis leading win
jump of 3-4, but the Improvement was
almost eradicated In the late slump. Inc
revamping of the old story OF Chicago and
Atoms passing into new hands was To-
day connected with Union Paciilc, instead
of Missouri Pacific or Michigan Central,
as the former rumors had 1T. TO TINS tale,
perhaps, was due rise in Union PACING
BEAR MOVEMENT THAT FAILED.
In the late hours the bears, by concerted
action, reached stop-loss orders, and car
ried prices off from / 10 per cent gem
orally. BY delivery hour the movement
petered out, and after period OF dulness,
prices picked up all around.
Newspaper articles treating the sugar
trade as farcical resulted in sharp rise
In that stock at the opening, which was
soon lost, the close being at last night
figures. Rubber continued its weakness
Of yesterday, losing 2 points. Brooklyn
Traction was very strong, crossing "a, on
limitations that a long-expected deal In
that property might be looked for soon:
The Changers were very strong most OF
the day, but reacted with the rest or the
list on the bear rise.
ENORMOUS BOND TRANSACTIONS.
The feature of the bond market to-day
was enormous transactions in Baltimore
and Ohio 1-2's. Transactions that at
tracted considerable attention were Oh
$4,000 and $4,000, at 9S Intermediate
transactions included many blocks OF
100000 and over. The general tone was
very unsettled, with the semi-speculatiye
issues TENDING lower. Total sales, $500
coo. United States new As and the os,
coupon. advanced IA, and the 3's and old
AS and SIS, registered, is, in the bid
price. .,oo,
The total sales Of stocks were 10000
shares. including 1060l Atchison; 1890
Atchison preferred; 1876 Canada South
ern; 20 $50 Central Pacific; 25.77O Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy; II 90 Denver ah9
Rio Grande. preferred; 7245 Louisville and
Nashville: 7 $50 Manhattan; $3.50 Minneso-
and Texas. preferred; 1850 New York
Central; 9.455 Rock Island; l2.526 Union ia,
cihc; 20, 403 st. Paul; $3.50 81. Paul anu
Omaha: 1853 Federal Steel; $3.50 Federal
Steel. preferred; $3.50 Peoples Gas; 5l0
Standard Rope and Irvine; 43S42 sugar;
$50 Tennessee Coal and Iron; lZ'zSo
United States Rubber.
MONEY AND EXCHANGE.
Money on call steady at 1-412 IL per
cent; last loan at IL per cent; prime
mercantile paper. 3ql per cent.
Sterling exchange steady, with actual
business in bankers bills at AA IL I4r
demand and $4d 1-2ns4Sl "a Ior SHY y
days; posted rates, A.s2 IL ana 800 -
commercial bills, $3.50 3-4. =,
Silver certificates, 50 1-2d6O IL. Bar sill
yer. 80 SIS Mexican dollars, 81:
Covernment bonds strong State bonds
firm. Railroad bonds irregular.
BANK CLEARINGS.
The total bank clearings in the United
States for the week were 1851 200 2Ss; per
cent increase. 24; exclusive of New YORK,
SGl0 296, 295: per cent. increase, l4s.