The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-16
STOCK MARKET
 SWINGS UPWARD
Advances In Few Special ties Fires Speculative
 Imagination

NEW YORK, Dec. 15.-With specula- tive imagination fired by sensational advances in a few specialties, stock prices today resumed their main up- ward movement despite rather large volume of profit taking toward the close. Net gains in the active issues ranged from one to 1872 points.
 Relaxation of call money rates, re- flecting the easing of the strain which preparations for todays billion dollar turnover had exerted upon the money market; higher zinc; lead and copper prices, reports of further expansion in steel operations and the publication Of statistics on November trade showing another strong balance in favor Of the United States were all factors in the days trading.
 Chief speculative interest was divided among three issues: United States Cast Iron Pipe, which was run up 1872 points to 150: Worthington Pump which jumped nearly 121s points to 71 and General Electric which climbed s1s points to 2S4h, all at new peak prices for the year. Pipe closed at the top and the others yielded only slightly on realizing sales. Central Railroad of New Jersey advanced 1914 points to 274 on a relatively few sales on rumors that the road was to be merged with the Baltimore and Ohio and the common stock exchanged for the latter on one to-four basis.
 Atchison was the leader in the rail road group, crossing 120 to the highest price in 15 years, on reports that the road would dispose of the common stock now held in it's treasury to its stock holders at par and increase the regu- lar rate at the next dividend meeting in January. Good buying also took place in Baltimore and Ohio common and preferred, Southern Railway, com mon and preferred, Great Northern, preferred, and St. uis-Southwestern, all of which broke through their prev ious 1924 miximum quotations.
 Inauguration of dividends on Mis- souri-K Kansas-Texas, preferred, at the rate of $5 annually, which was an nounced after the market closed, was preceded by the establishment of new top for the year at 75A, but the stock fell back later to "A for net loss or more than a point on the day.
 Standard industrials all closed higher on the day. United States Steel com mon touched 119 and then eased to 11SA, up 2 American Can closed a point higher at 14S% and Baldwin improved fractionally.
 Fifty issues attained new peak prices for the year, the list including American Express, Adams Express, Maxwell Mo- lOrS MdCk ITuChS, <AIlicIlCdA oliCiIih6b American Car and Foundry, Central Leather common and preferred, Postum Cereal, American Radiator, Foundation Company, Commercial Solvents A. and B., and St. Joseph Lead.
 Other outstanding strong points were Allis- Chalmers, Atlantic Refining, Asso- ciated Dry Goods, Federal Light and Traction, Springfield per cent preferred, McCrory Stores B., Montana Power, Savage Arms, Sears Roebuck, Stewart-Warner, Tidewater Oil, West Penn. Power and Wilson preferred, the gains ranging from 21a to points.
 Call money opened at 31a per cent and then eased to 8, closing at the bot tom figure. Time money and commer cial paper rates held firm.
 Foreign exchanges eased slightly. De- mand sterling was back to around $4.69 and French francs were quoted at 536h cents. Other changes were nominal.
 Stock market averages: