The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-16
MARKET SHOWED
MUCH STRENGTH.
Many Factors United to Produce This
Feeling Of Firmness.
BOND MARKET WAS LESS ACTIVE
Profit Taking Arrested the Advance to
Some Extcnt-Thc General Tcnden-
cy, However, Was Upward-Su-
gar Was Very Irregular.

NEW YORK. Dec. 15-Many stocks
gained about "a point to-day. and the mar
kot leit on strong. with a good buying
movement in progress. Perhaps the most
potent influence on sentiment was the
Governments foreign trade statement,
showing exports FOR November as nearly
ono hundred and thirty million dollars.
which was nearly sevcnty-elght million
dollars ia excess OF imports. and tho ex-
ccss OF imports for the Eve months OF
the fiscal year were above the enormous
sum az two hundred and forty-three mill
lion dollars. Then, too, the strength Of
the grain markets to-day seemed 10 indi-
cato "a continuance I'm the demand for our
products Alternating frmness and weak
ness rendered the market irregular during
the forenoon. Subsequently, the market
shook on It's hcsitancy and bcame buoy
ant ou reports that the Vanderbilt inter-
est had purchased the Chicago and Alton
with view OF merging II with the Mich
igdu Central system. Michigan Central
Immediately rose > points and Chicago and
Alton =. subsequently a Vanderbilt Off
Ci1l denied that such n deal had been
contaminated. This. however, failed 10
ancct the Vanderbilt stocks which con-
tInued upward 10 the close at about tho
best prices The sustained strength Of
the securities supposed 10 be interested
in the rumored deal aroused some H1m-
mcnt among the traders. Lake Shore
dropped : points on one sale Sugar was
very irregular. and moved within radius
OF points. closing with gain Of ~.
Denver preferred and Central Pacific were
strong. Some Of the usually dormant
stocks received some attention. Federal
steel shares were buoyant. common ris-
ing Pr.
bond market. and prOht-taking arrested
the Improvement I'm some securities. The
general tendency. however. was decidedly
upward Total sales. Sj.2Sj.O0O United
states 3s advanced Is In the bid, price
The total sales Of stocks to-day were
40. 800 shares including 20 $50 Atkinson,
30 500 do preferred, - $50 Canada South
ern. 275l2 Central Pacific 6.OGO Chesa-
peake and Ohio. II 7G5 Chicago, Burling-
ION and Quincy, 9G7j Denver and Rio
Graudo preferred. II $50 Louisville and
Nashville. $3.50 Manhattan; BIOS Metro
pOitun Street railway. $3.50 Reading first
preferred. 54.4O5 Missouri Pacific. 1900
Missouri Kansas and eXas: 1000 North
ern Pacific; 1900 New York Central;
5IJ1 Ontario and Western; 6,7O2 Rock
Island. 72iS Union Pacific. 1870 ST.
Paul. 1880 ST. Paul and omaha 500
Southern preferred 6.O01 Wabash pre-
ferrcd. 5sgS Wheeling and Lake Erie;
De- 80 American Tobacco, 81 $50 Federal
Steel; $50 do. preferred; n,44O People
Gas. "a 455 Sugar; 5SiJ Tennessee Coal
and Iron. 1920 United States Leather;
1880 do. preferred.
The Governing Committee Of the New
York Stock Exchange has decided 10 close
the exchange on the Saturdays before and
tho Mondays following Christmas and
New Years Day The decision was made
in response 10 petition from members
Of the exchange.
MONEY AND EXCHANGE. Money on
call steady az 2isn3 per cent: last loan
40 2ih per cent; prime mercantile paper,
314 per cent Sterling exchange irregu-
lar. with actual business I'm bankers bills
at 4 SfhG4 50 for demand and at S4SliR0
4 siat for sixty days. posted rates. fS2R
"a Slis. Silver certificates 5gihNGOt2: bar
II NIINfNnn
ment bonds strong. State bonds firm; rail-
road bonds strong.