The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-12
2 BUYING ORDERS :. SOON CLEAR UP
 sNAJ NV OAN SAA AAS NA
Widest Price Fluctuations Take
 Place .n Selected List Of y Specialties

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-Sandwiched in between two holidays, today's stock market failed to develop definite price trend. There was a fair accumulation of buying orders at the opening, based on the unexpectedly favorable showing of January thrilled orders of the United States Steel Corporation, but when these were disposed of the market lapsed into dullness and irregularity, which continued for the rest of the day. The widest price fluctuations took place in selected list of specialties. Com mercial solvents A and B jumped and 10h points, respectively, on reports of increased business and an early resump- - ton of dividends on the B stock. Fisher Body climbed ' points to 1864. National Enameling broke more than 6 points to 32ia on unconfirmed rumors that the S4 dividend was in danger, and then rallied points from it's low. Limited States Steel common sold as high as. 1077s, but dropped back more at net loss of '1 on the day. Bald iwn and American Can each gained about a point, closing at 12S1a and 119A, respectively. Independent Steels showed moderate strength in the early trading, but lost most or all of their gains before the close.
 Some. good buying took place in the motors on speculative expectation that February production figures would show an increase of 40 per cent over the same month last year, the same in- crease shown by the January figures. on publication of preliminary 1923 earn ings, showing about $14.S0 earned on the capital stock.
 Trading in the oil shares was still under restraint, owing to speculative fear that other disquieting develop ments are likely to result from the Senate oil lease investigation. Pan American issues lost about point each and a number of the other active oil issues yielded fractionally. Atlantic Re- lining. however. advanced points.
 Leather shares again came in for con- siderable attention, American Hide and Leather preferred climbing 31a points 10 65. new high for the year, and 15 points above the recent low. Central Leather preferred advanced 1K Cop per shares failed to make any re- sponse to the statement that January domestic, by North. and South Ameri- can producers, tota1ed 215,OOO, 900 pounds, the second highest on record.
 Rails held relatively firm. Wabash preferred A moved up nearly a point on the prediction of the chairman of the board that unless there was a marked change in business conditions the net earnings this year would total St share on the common. Lehigh Val Icy. Canadian Pacific, New Haven, "Nickel Plate" Texas and Pacific, Pittsburg and West Virginia and Della ware and Hudson each gained a point b. or more.
 Foreign exchanges ruled slightly low CT because of uneasiness over the open ing of the British Parliament and the threatened dock workers strike. De- mand sterling again dropped below S4.30 for a loss of more than a cent over the weekend, and French francs sold about points lower at 4.55 cents |, Chinese silver and South American ex- changes were strong.
 Call money ruled at 41s per cent throughout the session. The time money market was quiet, with quotations rul- ing at AZ and A per cent, depending upon maturity.
 Tciai stock sales, 662, 900 shares
 Twenty industrials averaged 101 09; net loss, IS.
 High. 1924 101 24 low, 94ss.
 Twenty railroads averaged s4.91; net gain, 80.
 High, 1924. s5.sO; low, s2.74.
 LONDON MONEY
 LONDON, Feb. 11-Bar silver, SS 15-16 pence per ounce. Money, 2% per cent; discount rates, short bills, 5 n-16@3% per cent; 3-month bills, 8 11-16@3A per cent.