The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-17
DULLNESS OF HOLIDAYS
SEXES STOCK MARKET.
BULK OF. BUSINESS con-
FINED TO FOUR ISSUES.
Feeling in Regard TO the Pros
poets in Iron and Steel Trade
Far From Hopeful.

New York. Dec 1s.-The market took on
the tone of holiday dullness and apathy
to-day. Fully half the days measer
transactions were in four stocks namely
Amalsamated Copper United States Steel
preferred. PENNSYLVANIA and Brooklyn
Rapid Transit. An advance in few Of
the specialties caused some sympathetic
response in the general list. but the adj
vances were largely lost before half Of
the day. The almost total lack of demand
to assert itself in spite of the very light
pressure to sell stocks Brooklyn Tran
sits rise seemed due to buying from the
same sources as for some time. but the
approach of the opening to traffic of the
new bridge from New York across the
East River was given as a reason for the
demand for the stocks. on account of Il
prospect Of increased traffic from that hat
due to the imminence Of the passage OF
the Cuban reciprocity bill through the
Senate.
COPPER ACTIVE.
The market for Amalsamated Copper
continued very active and the price moved
irregularly. The activity of the raw cop
per market in London was an influence on
the stock. but the dealings were attrtb-
utcd to an organized speculative move
ment The depression upon the market.
which was evident. was not easily eA-
plainabIc. The disturbed tendency of the
money market, which often becomes ap-
parent toward the close OF the year. is
entirely lacking at present. Currency Is
moving freely toward New York from the
West and the continued movement toward
New Orleans Is not sufficient to offset the
inflow.
The large receipts of gold. and the in
coming shipments stin to be received by
the turn Of the year. afford assurance Of
manning period Of the year. after which
a natural influx OF funds to this center Is
looked fer The perusal of the arguments
of counsel in the Northern Securities case.
effect upon the days speculative senti-
ment. both as influencing opinions as to
the probable decision In that case and as
suggesting possible collateral applications
of the principles at issue in the case.
IRON TRADE DISCUSSED.
There was much discussion also Of the
condition in the iron and steel trades ow-
ing to the large gathering Of representa-
tives in those trades here TO discuss the
maintenance Of prices.
There was no very confident feeling OBJ
Serva BILE that present prices could be held.
and the existence of some of the pools
designed to hold rates was feared to be
endangered. threatening open competition
and cutting of rates in some of the
branches of the steel trade. This seemed
W We uH0eilsuh6 CduSo u tIie
in the stock dealings. as much as anything
else. The sharp recovery In the sterling
exchange market was sufficient to put an
end to gold imports for the present. The
demand for rcmtttanceS to cover inter-
est and dividend obligations to foreign &C.
curity holders and the holiday remittances
to friends by foreigners resident here Is
also conspicuous factor in the season.
able firmness of foreign exchange.
Bonds were rather dull and heavy. Total
sales. par value. n.560O10. United States
hon. ct,us vol s,1n