1 NOVEMBER 1935, Page 56

Financial Notes

ELECTION MARKETS.

FOLLOWING upon a week of moderate activity and strength in securities has come the almost inevitable reaction.

Inevitable " because there is little doubt that during last week markets banked too much upon some early termination of the Italo-Abyssinian War; optimism was based on the rather vague reports of " Peace Moves," while there was also a tendency to disregard the disturbing effects of the General Election period.

Accordingly, during this week there has been a very natural falling off of business and a consequent moderate reaction in ' prices. Nothing is more disturbing to the Stock Markets than uncertainty, and until the result of the Election one way or the other has become known, it seems almost certain that there will be a general restriction of business. The undertone of markets can still be described as good, but optimism is based upon expectations of a continuance of the policy which

(Continued on page vi.)