Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-03
STOCKS IRREGULAR
IN QUIET MARKET
Trading Becomes More Ac-
tive, With Price Changes
Mixed.
BY GEORGE t. HUGHES
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK, February Sin a
slightly more active market and with
the buying side still having shade the
better of it, stocks moved irregularly
again today. Various industrial special
ties were bid up eXuberantly, others
sold down to new lows and the standard
issues, while generally firm, did little one
way or the other.
The news was not conducive to the
buying of stocks, but the market seemed
to be in strong technical position, with
large short interest and with little
pressure from liquidation.
Forenoon Advances.
During the first couple of hours adj
vances predcminated, although they
were mostly in the more volatile type Of
issues FoSter-Wheeler was one of the
features, responding, according to re-
ports, to pool operations. At any rate, ii
made a new high for the year without
much opposition.
Worthington Pump was turned over
in volume around Mondays best. Vana-
dunn gained point or so and Auburn
Auto ran up A or points. General
RefractOries and Vulcan DEFINING, the
latter one of the stocks dealt in in less
than a hundred share unit, went to a
new high.
With regard to none Of these stocks
was there any new information as to
earnings or prospects. The advance in
these selected issues was accompanied
by selling elsewhere in the list, one of
the weakest issues being United States
Industrial Alcohol at a new low for the
year. For the first six months of 1880
Alcohol earned 81 48 q share and to-
days decline was due, in part at least,
to unfavorable estimates of the net for
the second six months. -
List Fairly Firm.
The Hudson Motor 1880 statement
came out showing 20 cents a share for
the stock against $7.26 a share in 1929
On limited volume the stock sold off
to a new low. It was interesting to
observe that the weakness in Hudson
had no effect on General Motors, which
early in the day duplicated its previous
high on the movement.
Fol-. time merchandising stocks were
in brisk demand under the leadership
of Woolworth and Best & Co. The
utilities were steady but that was all.
Copper stocks held we'll notwithstand-
ing unsatisfactory CONDITIONS in the
trade and the amusement shares made
relatively good showing.
1t was much mixed market for the
rails. Union Pacific sold at 5000 for
GAlC ALoI l1llLc Jlllo year dllQ ENSW 1Olh
Central and AtchiSon were higher. but
Rock Island and st. LouiS-San Fran
cisco were in supply. Dividend meetings
for the last two named roads are sched-
uled for Wednesday, but it was under
stood today action would be deferred to
the March meeting, when it is expected
the directors will be able to act more
intelligently with regard to prospects for
the best of the year.
Early Market Irregular.
The market, after a firm opening, be-
came irregular in dull trading. There
were both new high and new lows.
Electric Auto Lite ran up to a new
high in active deals. Hudson Motors
slumped to new low on the announce
ment that 1880 earnings were 20 cents
a share, against $7.26 a share in 1929
Foster Wheeler hit a new high, nearly
2 points better at 5534. General Gable
preferred was at new bottom and
down 334 points at 40A. Vulcan De-
timing went to new top. Poor & Co.
Sagged to a fresh bottom. Best g. Co.
made a new high.
Money renewed at ~ per cent, I'M
changed. Trading in the first half hour
was given as about 100000 shares.
The market leaders had the same
general irregular trend, though move
ments were not wide. United States
Steel was off a shade at 140A. Air Re-
duction, Diamond Match and Lambert
gained. Case Threshing, General Elec-
trio and Worthington Pump were lower
In the mines, Kennecott was down and