The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-17
MARKET ASSUMES HOLIDAY DULLNESS Almost a Total Lack of Demand
 for Stocks APATHY ON EVERY SIDE Fully Half the Days Trading Was Done In AmaIeamated Copper, U. S. Steel Pfd, Pennsylvania and
 Brooklyn Rapid Transit 
APATHY ON EVERY SIDE

New York, December 16.-The stock market took on the tone of holiday dull ness and apathy today. Fully half the days meagre transactions were in four stocks, namely, Amalgamated Copper. United States Steel preferred, Pennsyl- vania and Brooklyn Rapid Transit. An advance in a number of specialties caused some sympathetic response in the general list but he advances were largely lost before the noon hour. The almost total lack of demand for stocks allowed gray itating tendency to assert itself, in spite of the very light pressure to sell socks.
 Brooklyn Transit's rise seemed due to buying from he same source as for some time, but the aprpoaeh of the opening ao traffic of the new bridge from New York across the East river, was given as reason for the demand of the stock on account of prospect of increased traffic from that cause. Sugars advance was supposed to be due to he imminence of the passage of the Cuban reciprocity bill through the senate. The market for cop per continues very active and the price moved irregularly. The activity of the
  fuence on the stock, but the dealings were attributed to an organized speculative movement. The repression when the mar ket was at it's best was not easily ex plained.
 The disturbed condition of the money market which often becomes apparent to- ward the close of the year, is entirely lacking at present. / Currency is moving freely towards New York from the west. and the continued movement towards New Orleans is not sufficient to offset the inflow. The large receipts of gold and the incoming shipments still to be re- ceived before the turn of the year. afford assurance of easy conditions of money for the small remaining period of the year. after which a natural influx of funds to this center is looked for. The perusal of the arguments of counsel in the Northern Securities case as published to- day, undoubtedly had its effect upon the days speculative sentiment, both as influ- encing opinions as to the probable decis ion in the case, and actual transactions. There was much discussion of the condi- ton of iron and steel trades owing to the large gathering of representatives of those trades here to discuss the maintenance of prices. There was no very confident feeling observable that present prices could be held and the existence Of some of the pools designed to hold rates was fear ed to be endangered, threatening open competition and cutting of rates in some of he branches of the steel trade. This seemed to be the underlying cause of the dullness in the stock dealings as much as anything else The demand for remit tance is to cover interest and dividend obligations to foreign security holders and the holiday remittances to friends by foreigners resident here is also a conspic- uous factor in the seasonable firmness of foreign exchange.
 Bonds were dull and heavy. Total sales par value $l5G0000.
 United States bonds were unchanged on call.