Financial Notes
BRITISH FUNDS LOWER.
THE Stock Markets during this week have been under influences of a conflicting character. At one time Industrials and the more speculative markets were distinctly better on the idea of a possible change in Government having a stimulating effect upon industry. Pari passe, British Funds and kindred stocks were inclined to weaken on the idea that they might suffer from a diversion of interest to Industrial descriptions, while this retrograde tendency was also accentuated by the continued withdrawals of gold from the Bank of England, followed by a firmer tone in the Discount Market. On Tuesday the downward tendency in Investment stocks was emphasized by the talk of Liberals having persuaded the Government to deal with unemployment 'along the lines of a large Government Loan. At the time of writing, these reports lack confirmation, but they served to depress not only gilt-edged stocks, but other markets, inasmuch as it was understood that in return for this concession the Liberals were prepared to see the Government safely over the difficulties in the matter of the Labour Disputes Bill. Altogether it has been an unsettled week in the Stock Markets, chiefly by reason of the varying character of political influences.
* * * *
Previous page
