23 MARCH 1929, Page 46

Financial -1\lotps -- : MARKETS BETTER....

ALTHOUGH monetary influences continue •to dominate the situation on the Stock Exchange, the tone has been rather better during the past- week. Not that there has been any radical change in- the monetary outlook, -and, indeed, the rise in the Italian Bank Rate and the talk, of an advanee in other European Bank Rates suggest that Europe is tery much on the defensive owing to the high money rates in New York. Nevertheless, the American exchange, instead of _moving further against this country, has improved a little and the Bank of England has succeeded in obtaining a -fair amount of gold from the Cape. The Stock Exchange had been so greatly-fearing that ere this more gold might hare gone to America, followed by a- rise in our Bank Rate, that from sheer relief with regard to, the developments of the past week there has been a rally in most departments of the stock markets.