The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-20
STOCK MARKET
SENl-STAGNANT
Dealings Largely Confined TO Pro-
fessional Operators.
MONEY MARKETS TONE HARDER.
Suspense Over Negotiations for Steel
Merger Still Has an Apprrciabio
Influence Whole List
was Rcnctionary.
MONEY MARKETS TONE HARDER.
nv Associated Prcss.)

NEW YORK. Feb. 19.-There was an
element among the professional operators
ON the Stock Exchange which WORKED ZOE
a rally to-day on the theory that Sester-
days selling was largely due 10 ope.ta-
ton on the bear account and that tl nv;
vigorous support of the market "ouio
drive these bears to cover.
The nanoeuvre was entirely without
success especially in the early dealings,
but all of the markets strength was Cen
fined to very lew stocks, ana was 10. t
long maintained. 1t soon fell away 10 liie
point OF serli-stagnation. obviously home
hut professional operators We're interested
Hons as sea- '0''' = -
The suspense over the negotiations Tor
the steel merger is trying the nerves CT
all spectators. II was Tumoren to-oay
that it was proposed to divide the t5sh
assets OF one OF the principal COMPANIES
contemplated in the merger 1etoT" II
should be taken in. The preferred sock
of the company would have a prior cam.
thus offering a very abStuSe problem Cl
stocks to the value of their share OF The
new securities after such division or as
sets has been made; The steel stocks
were all feverish and unsettled, but gen
orally weakened during the course OF tie
day.
ihc money market was not Violently
disturbed but the tone continues TO
harden. a check for over s:,3o0o,Goo, on
account of the New Jersey Central Kali
road purchase. went through the Clear.
ing-House to-day, and was reminder OF
tho continued influence on account of re-
cent deals. Sterling exchange hardened
in New York on a demand Tor remittance
by to-morrow's steamer. 1t seems to be
the expectation in Ionic 1..t nc low
point has been touched Tor discount ra:cs
which would haze an .iupo- ALT Lea, r ID
any future needs Df ti:1 Ne-' GIN
money market.
The decision to close the Stock EX-
change from Thursday Afternoon Until
MONDAY was an influence towards; Gull
ness
The coalers were especially weak. Del
aware and Hudson was erratic. breaking
violently u. from the top, and closing
We're all notably weak declining from l
10 ny. and there We're severe losses 9SI, IN
Great Norhern prefsrrsd GensFa bsi Sides
those in the steel stocks.
There was an upward turn IN Sugar,
but it did not hold: Comparative firm
ness was shown by Union Pacific Illinois
Central and for time St Paul, though
that stock gave way at the last There
was large buying of Southern Pacific
close. Total sales, par valu S4,oso. euo
United States were all unchanged on last
call. The whole list was reactionary.
Total sales to-day were I9o,JGo shares
OF stocks.
MONEY AND ENcHANGE.-Money or
call steady at 2d21a per cent: prime
mercantile 1t paper; Slsa4a2 per cent ; Stef-
ness in bankers bills at $4.S!1s94.SI4 for
demand. and at $1.S4G4.S 41s for sixty
da Ks posted rates b Sis' aad s ss
Silver certificates. G112qG21a: bar silver,
G114: Mexican dollars, 472:. Government
bonds steady; State bonds inactive; rail-
road bonds irregular.
The Board OF Governors of the Stock
Ixshange saye x0ted e to eioSe ahe
STOCK QUOTATIONS.
Closing Bid.