30 MARCH 1844, Page 7

MONEY MARKET.

STOCK EXCHANGE, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

The business transacted in the English Funds has been of an unimportant character. The Government-broker has continued his purchases for the Com- missioners for the Reduction of the National Debt and of the. Savings Banks, to the extent of 35,0001. per day ; and upon their continuance will to a certain extent depend the immediate course of the market : if this support be with- drawn from it we may anticipate a trifling decline, but if it be continued the present prices will be maintained. The speculative portion of the public ap- pear to have ceased to operate in the English Funds. The only quotation of Consols for the whole week, both for Money and Account, has been 081 ; which is the closing price today. So little business of a speculative character has occurred, that it was nearly one o'clock today before a single bargain was recorded in the Official List as having occurred for Aoeount. Indeed, the present high price puts a complete stop to all speculation ; as small hope can be entertained for any decline while money continues at its present rate, and at existing quotations the most sanguine speculator cannot hope to gain much by operating for the rise. The reduction of the Three-and.a-half per Cent Stocks has been carried through more successfully than could possibly have been imagined. The time for the expression of dissent by Stockholders living in the United Kingdom expired on Saturday last ; and the amount dissented is this-

16 Proprietors, holding New Three-and-a half per Cents to the

amount of £37,137 7 5 Proprietors, holding Reduced Three-and-a-half per Cents to the amount of 23,857 10 O.

Si Proprietors. holding £60,994 17 0 When it is considered that the amount of Stock forming the two descriptions of security above-named is upwards of 210,000,0001, it will be seen that the Stockholders have almost universally acceded to the proposed terms; the amount dissented for being little more than / per cent upon the whole sum of Stock. The holders of Three_and-a-half per Cents 1818 are required formally to express their assent to the proposed reduction, instead of giving a silent acquiescence : the period fixed for the declaration of their assent is until the 20th April ; and, as already nearly four-fifths in amount have assented, this great financial measure may be considered as definitively carried, and a saving of 625,0001. a year thus secured to the country. The business of the Foreign Market has been of a varied and general cha- racter. Moat of the current varieties of Stock are advancing. Spanish has, as Usual, been the chief attraction. The scheme for the capitalization of the over- due Active Coupons is still entertained : Three per Cent Stock has conse- quently risen yearly 2 per cent, having been today as high as 374, but closing rather lower : the Active have not improved to such a degree, not having risen more than about 1 per cent, and closing at 265. Mexican Active and Deferred have improved, the former to 364, and the latter to 165. This security has become latterly a great favourite ; having improved within the last six weeks nearly 6 per cent, viz. from 104 to 165. South American Securities are also in demand : Columbian ex-Venezuela have risen to 155 ; and Venezuela Active and Deferred are sought for at improved prices. No material variation has occurred in Dutch Stock. Neither have the Portuguese Converted Bonds fluctuated to any extent. The Railway Shares have been objects of general and extensive business; and though some fluctuation has occurred in some of the leading lines, it has only arisen from the occasional preponderance of buyers or sellers. Among the new schemes started, is the Caledonian Railway; which appeared in the market to- day, and after being at 1 premium, closes at a slight depression. The French lines are in demand ; and a new one, that of the Strasburg and Basle, is for the fast time quoted in our lists. The original shares are for 500 francs; but only 350 are paid, the French Government advancing the remaining 150 by way of loan. The price in Paris had been for some time 250 francs, but has recently risen to between 290 and 300; and the quotation here is from 1151. to 121. per share. It is considered that the formation of the line from Strasburg to Paris will add considerably to the value of the shares of the Strasburg and Basle Railway.

SATURDAY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

There is no change or business of importance in the English Funds. In the Foreign Market, the only transactions requiring notice have been in Spanish Stock, of which the Three per Cents have risen to 375, and the Active to 264 : the former are now rather lower, viz., 375 4; the Active the same. The Pas- sive Stock has been for some time creeping up, and improved yesterday from 65 to 75; much business has occurred this morning at 75, and the price is now

i•

The transactions in Railway Shares have as yet been confined to the follow- ing: Edinburgh and Glasgow, 644; Manchester and Birmingham, 985; North Midland, Quarter Shares, 454 ; South-eastern and Dover, 375 ; Dublin and Cashel are nominally 3i premium ; and Caledonian, to 1 premium. SATURDAY, Two O'CLOCK.

The English Funds close at the morning's quotations. The only business transacted has been for Money, not a single bargain for Account having been recorded in the Official List today. In the Foreign Market, Spanish Stock closes rather lower—Three per Cents, 375; Active, 265; Deferred, 154 ; Passive, 75 4. The South American Funds are still in demand : Columbian ex Venezuela have been at 155, but close lower ; Mexican Deferred close at 161 to 174 ; while the Active Bonds have been at 37.

The following transactions have occurred in Railway Shares in addition to those given in the morning: Birmingham and Derby, 63; Chester and Holyhead, 7% 5; Chichester and Brighton, 55; Eastern Counties, New Registered, 114 ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, Quarter-Shares, Registered, Ill ; Great Western, 111; Ditto, Half-Shares, 70; Hull and Selby, 60; Brighton, 444; South- western, 825; Ditto, Eighth-Shares, 34; Croydon, Scrip, 144; Manchester and Leeds, Half-Shares, 485; Ditto, and Birmingham, 98; Norwich and Brandon, 65 7; Newcastle and Darlington, 38; Paris and Orleans, 353; Paris and Rouen, 364 ; Australasian Bank, ank, 44.

98 i

3 per Cent Consols

Chilian 6 per Cents ...... 103 5 Ditto fur Account

981 f Chilian Deferred

3 per Cent Reduced

shut Colombian ex Venezuela

154 1

31 per Cent Ditto

shut Danish 3 per Cents

87 8

New 34 per Cents

1024 g Dutch 24 per Cents

071 4

Bank Stock

200 Ditto 5 per Cents 1011 2 Exchequer Bills prem. 68 70 Mexican 5 per Cents Consd .

361 7

India Stock

292 4

Portuguese New 5 p. Cts.1041

454 64

Brazilian 5 per Cents

824 f Spanish (Active)5 per Cents 26

Belgian 5 per Cents

104 5 Ditto 3 per Cents 1842

bit t