Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-31
REVIEW OF MARKETS.
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCTAL
Stocks, Money, Exchange, Bonds, Grain,
Cotton, Provisions, Etc. 4

NJ new York, Jan. 3Q.-The STOCK mar
ket threw OF its lethargy and inertness
to-day in q very impressive manner.
There was quite an active demand for
stocks from the start in the shape of
buying orders accumulated over night.
and the demand gathered in volume
and urgency pretty steadily throughout
the day. The rise was so considerable
at some points as to invite profit-ta
ing, but offerings on this account were
absorbed with such confidence that the
selling soon ceased, and the market
closed with an upward course of prices
and burst of animation at the best
prices OF the day. Although there was
substantial increase In outside interest,
the market must still be described as
largely professional. The strength was
also to q great extent Spotty. That is
to say, u comparatively few stocks or
groups of stocks rose buoyantly while
the large part of the list moved in u
more sedate manner, but still upward.
But while this is true OF IL perspective
view of the whole market there was,
nevertheless, q notable broadening out
In speculative interest, not only
through the usually active list, but em-
braclng many dormant stocks. 1t has
been manifest for some time that the
floating supply of stocks was small ana
that prices moved easily on any con-
siderable demand, but this and every
thing else seemed unnvailng to invite
any considerable demand. Even the
obvious unwlllingness OF prices to go
down and the determined ignoring Of
the depressing Influences reflected from
the London market have seemed until
to-day to be viewed with apathy by
the speculative public. These events
In 4,
confidence in the stability of values,
and apparently 1t needed only some
special incident to crystalize sentiment
into an active buying movement.
The action OF the directors of the
American Steel and Wire Company
yesterday in setting aside u years
dividend for the common stock ut the
rate OF per cent. aud It's handsome
years showing was the effective Incl
dent which sent tho quotations full
point apart on running sales The
stock scored q subsequent advance
which carried it up an extreme points.
Its net gain is AS. This aggressive
strength had markell sympathetic effect
ON all the metal stocks, all the more
so on account OF the extreme depres-
sion from which they have long suffer
ed. There was q large demand for an
eager short interest in Sugar, and the
prevailing cod weather resulted in n
sudden jump in the price Of Coalers.
In the railroad list the Changers and
all the Pacific and Southwestern stocks
We're in notable demand, but the whole
list was strong. The only thing to ac-
count for the sudden drop OF liz in
Pittssburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and ST.
Louis was report of new Pittsbure-
Chicago line in contemplation. Chesa-
peake and Ohio was heavy, perhaps in
sympathy. The first two hours of trad.
Ing recorded as many sales as the re-
cent average for full days business
While the market Is still largely pro-
Iessional. the calibre of the operators
Is obviously much heavier than those
recently in evidence, individual trans
actions of thousand shares and up.
ward being frequently recorded.
: Bonds showed increased activity and
were strong throughout Total sales.
par value, $3.50, 900.
United States old AS. registered. adj
vanced % and United States old as,
coupon, &c. in the bid price The total
sales of stocks were 4S3, 200 shares.
New York, Jan. 3O.-Standard Oil
6.1b@51S