Evening star., 1943-09-26
Business Briefs

u
A Slight Lag In Business, Activity
In the last week was reflected by the
index of Business Week, which stood
at 2l2.3, compared with 2i2.4 In the
preceding week. 2ll.e q month aao.
20l.o six months ago and 1880 q
year ago.
Increased Cigarette CONSUMPTION
by civilians Is expected, but the rate
of expansion will fiatten out in COM
ing months, according to Standard
q Poor's Corp. Sales to the armed
forces, already large, will continue to
climb for some time. Higher costs
will cut margins and earnings will
be smaller, but dividends are likely
to be covered and present liberal
payments probably will be main-
tanned, the statistical Arm added.
Wholesale Markets were restrained
In the week by stringency Of sup
plies, although recent heavy retail
demand could have resulted In one
OF the busiest weeks in some time.
Dun & Bradstreet, Inc, reported.
Buyer attendance decreased slirhtly
and deliveries In ell but q few lines
were very slow, Most trading re-
presented reordering Of fall and
holiday lines. The few new orders
were mostly for spring goods, which
were still given out on the allotment
basis only.
War Production Is Rising Further
under terrific pressure from WASH
ington, Burnham Finney declared In
the magazine American Machinist.
1t is not advancing. however, at the
rate desired by war officials, and
since military strategy is tied closely
with production, the result is likely
to be some delay, possibly a matter
OF weeks. in carrying out certain war
campaigns, particularly in the Pa
Gifts, he said.
Supporting the War Housing Pro-
gram, American insurance COM
panies added more than $50 ,000, 600
to holdings of FHA mortgages In
the first half of 1943, the Institute
OF Life Insurance announced. Since
the start of the program two years
ago, the companies have directed
approximately $133, ,000, 900 into
financing of this type.
A Postwar Revival Of Underwrit-
ing was predicted by Fitch Investors
Service. Industries expected to en-
ter the new capital market for large
sums included: Air transport, plas-
tics, electronics, light metals and
chemicals.
Pennsylvania Railroad reported
August net income Of $11,452, ,109 on
gross of $88, ,413 SAB, compared with
$15,543,776 on $76 .947, liz in the same
1912 month. In eight months
ended August 81. net was $72 1868, ,l40
on gross of s643, ,249, ISL. compared
with $7S,921 1856 on $531 ,581 ,987 4
year ago.
International Railways Of Central
America in eight months ended Au-
gust 81 earned 81, 1854, ,180 or 1854 q
share on the IS cumulative pre-
ferred, compared with $3.50 ,224 or
$3.50 a share on the IS preferred in
the same 1912 period. The IS has
an accumulation Of unpaid diyi.
dens.
Madison Square Garden Corp. re-
ported net loss Of t153,235 for
three months ended August 81, COM
pared with a net loss Of Sit ,909 In
the same quarter last year.
Canadian National Railways re-
ported August net income Of $0,062,-
600 against $8,178,000 for August,
1912. In the first eight months Of
1943, net was 1888 900 against
$53, ,929, 900 in the same period last
year.
General Motors Corp. announced
common and preferred stockholders
in the third 1943 quarter totaled
414,380, compared with 414,247 in
the preceding quarter and 414,064 in
the same 1912 period. The latest
total included 392 $40 common hold
ers and 21,540 preferred holders.
compared with s2,725 and II ,522
in the preceding quarter.