The sun., 1915-03-18
FINANCIAL NEWS
AND COMMENT
Stagnant Session in the Stock
Market-Regular Read
ing Dividend.
STEEL TRADE FEATURES

wall Streets disposition to inactivity
pending developments in tn. European n
war Or In collateral factors. such as the
controversies affecting the rights of reu-
tral commerce. or in the field OF do
mestic trade were accertuated by yes
'erday's Stock Exchange session IN
the afternoon the market was alnos,
stagnant
Total dealings contracted 10 the sna l.
est volume In many weeks, and while
there vas no marked change ~ prices
the share list had an aspect OF neav e
ness Mexican Petroleum Sas advance
sharply, but he display - aggress.r'
strength was not continued !a other
special descriptions Here and tr' r.
specialties dropped rather abruptly OF
moderate sa'es and the quest oa began
10 be asked II some stocks had not been
manpuvred into more or less Irmarke' =
able positions However the standard
issues gave no s.gn OF weakness. even
though trading in them was too desl
tory and too meagre 20 be OF any sig
uficarce
During the greater part ot the day
tho suppos.tion Wts that 'he market
was waiting on the dividend action o;
the Reading directors. The announce
ment OF the regular quarterly disburse
ment Of PEI cent on the common
shares. about which there rad been no
real doubt came after he declaration
OF .he regular quarterly dividend ui
~, per cent. or me Lehirh valley
Circumstance no' without M, ming
for American values Sas the ts>tora-
ton OF dividends or RIO Tirt1 shares
he mos, historic copper stock N the
world Nevertheless the stock EN
change made 70 response 70 this o-
X anything a lit',e more unsteady q
me late afternoon than earlier p the
session
While there was the usual amount ot
discussion ard argument about war FAC
tors and their adverse or p-op!tious
possibilities Z; vas not manifest that
any conclusions were forming which
would shape themselves in stock market
expression. The situation seemed C
furnish further corroho"ation OF .re vieN
that the financial community hai se,-
tied into a mo'd of waiting on ~ven's
including developments In the MaS ~
affairs Bankers continued % interest
themselves in negotiations for f-1rc.rc
which according 10 ruwor covered d
vide range of external loars l1r a
variety OF countries. but Just a. present
no impulses are e'nanat-g f'om these
enieavors 10 in,part any trend e. secur.
ties In the meantime % new lue e1t.o'
has arisen as % he real character o..
the iavestnen: demand and an arswe-
to this inquiry APPEARS 20 bee amcns
the matters Wh."t Wal street Is await
.nr
The prnc'pa .te7 % news n-a- nc
on domestic Industry vas furr she'd o.
the weekly reviews o; steel conditions
IL seems TO b. the case that stee, iro
duction has been gaining lately on new
bushes. but the season Is opening W
not unfavorably ! good deal 0f wa'
business is coming 20 the steel ma<e-'
and export orders ard rqu.- o. are or
.h- .u r.ase. Meanwhile he v.Vval Of
sh pbuill!1c a,tiv..ieS and preparation
for structural No-~ are bringing more
I contracts into sight.
Weakness Z. sterling vaS "a. '.itr-'
Of foreign exchange Demand h.N
sagged p-rs s,en'iv and closed arou~,
i79A II the Bank Of E"g.1ni's re-
ported efforts 20 assert some cor-~'
/ over tn, London morey market have
q b-eH des.r-ed 20 help the position o.
sterling exchange here they have 80 "a
been Ui,hou; any apparent result