MONEY MARKET.

STOCK EXCHANGE, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

The English Funds opened on Monday with great firmness at an advance of 3 per cent upon the quotations of Christmas-eve, in consequence of the very favourable Bank-return of Saturday, the abundance of money, and the improving condition of the commercial world. The first price in Consols was 931 3 : operations were nearly all in one direction till there were buyers at 943. The failure of a dealer, whose transactions were considered to be very extensive and complicated, caused a reaction of about 3, per cent ; but the market has since steadily recovered, closing this afternoon at 943 ; showing an improvement upon last week of exactly 1 per cent. There has been a good deal of business doing throughout the week, and there is still a tendency to higher prices. Bank Stock leaves off at 217 219. Reduced, 943 f. NCAV Three per Cents, 943 3. Exchequer Bills, par 5 premium. The Foreign Market has been very dim; prices generally having ruled much higher, averaging 1 to 2 per cent. Turkish Six and _Four per Cents have both advanced 2 per cent, and Mexican and Spanish 1 per cent. The rate for money in this market has been extremely high, frequently 15 per cent. Turkish Six per Cents are 983 3-; Ditto Four per Cents, 1031 104 ; Peruvian Four-and-a-half per Cents 78 SO; Peruvian Three per Cents, 53 55.; Buenos Ayres, 92 95; Spanish Three per Cents, 403e 41i ex div. ; Ditto Deferred, 251 26; Venezuela Active, 31 33 ; Russian, 107 109; Mexican, 21 21f.

A rather large business has been doing in Railway Shares, although a great deal of attention has been given to the arrangement of the account, Which was settled yesterday. Quotations are all considerably higher : Mid- ' land fully 2 per cent ; London and North-Western 21 ; Great Western, 13 per cent. Caledonian Shares are quoted 21. better-423 423-in spite of a heavy Contango of about 1/. per share. Great Western close at 553 3 ; London and North-Western, 983 ; London and South-Western, 48 481 ; Midland, 911 92. In heavy Shares the rate of continuation has been from 10 to 25 per cent, London and Brighton, 107f 10814-about 3 per cent higher than last week. South-Eastern have improved U., leaving off at 213 3. Great Northern, 243 3. .

The French Share Market continues very good. Northern of France, 331 39; Paris and Lyons, -34 35k; Strasbourg, 27f 28. Notice has been given that the final instalment of 2/. 128. per share of the Lombardo- Venetian Railway, less 68. for interest, is to be paid by the 15th January ; and that the half-yearly dividend, at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, is ready. The Shares have improved, and are now quoted 53 6. Indian continue in their tendency upwards, with scarcely any reaction. East Indian, 112 113; Great Indian Peninsula, 22 22f ; Madras, 201. shares, 22 221.

SATURDAY, ONE O'CLOCK.

A reaction of 3 per cent has taken place in the twice of Securities since the opening ; Consols are now 943 buyers only. Railway Shares are like- wise a shade flatter, but the business passing has been immaterial. The following are the last transactions-Caledonian, 86; Eastern Counties, 603; East Lancashire, 921 ; Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee 31; Great Northern A Stock, 861 ; Great Western, 573 ; Lancashire and 'Yorkshire, 94-3; London and Blackwall, 63; London and North-Western, 993; Lon- don and South-Western, 983; Midland, 923; North-Eastern-Berwick, 983; Ditto York, 873 ; Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton 33; South- Eastern, 723 ; Southern of France, 23. Joint Stock Banks-Oriental Bank Corporation, 32; Ottoman Bank, 183 ' - Union of London, 213. Miscella- neous-Canada, 133; Crystal Palace 13 ; Electric Telegraph, 107.

SATURDAY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The Bank return shows an increase of 701,680/. in the stock of bullion. The Markets are all good this morning, with a further improvement in the Funds of I per cent. Consols 943 1. Foreign Stocks and Railway Shares active, at somewhat higher prices.

Ditto for Account 94 1 Ditto 4 per Cents 98 99

3 per Cent Reduced 94 a Mexican 3 per Cents 24 10

New 3 per Cents

Long Annuities 2 -16 Ditto 3 per Cents 53 55

Bank Stock 217 219 Portuguese 3 per Cents 1853. 431 44/ Exchequer Bills par 5 pm., Russian 3 per Cents 107 109

India Stock shut I Ditto 41 per Cents 96 98

Austrian 5 per Cents 92 94 Spanish 3 per Cents 40/ 1 Brazilian 5 per Cents 98 par Ditto Deferred 251 6

Belgian 43 per Cents 96 98 Sardinian 5 per Cents 85 6

Chilian 6 per Cents 100 103 Swedish 4 per Cents 83 5 Danish 5 per Cents 100 102 Turkish 6 per Cents 98 Ditto 3 per Cents 80 82 Ditto 4 p. Cent Guaranteed .. 103 - 94 1 Peruvian 41 per Cents

The Bank return has resumed its customary aspect, the 2,000,000/. of notes issued against " securities " under the authority of the Treasury letter having now been withdrawn. The bullion increased during the week end- ing Saturday by 701,680/.

At a meeting of the shareholders of the Northumberland and Durham District Banking Company, on Saturday, it was resolved to register the company under the "Joint-Stock Banking Companies Act 1857," with a view to protect individual shareholders from actions by creditors and to fa- cilitate a winding-up. Actions, it appears, have been entered against share- holders to the extent of some 80001.

The commercial community have lost two members which it can ill spare in these degenerate days-two sterling British merchants, who have pur- sued a long career in honour,-Mr. John Horsley Palmer and Mr. James Mackillop, who retire from the firm of Messrs. Palmer, Mackillop, Dent,

i and Co. ; t will henceforth be known as "Dent, Palmer, and Co."

Mr. David Barclay Chapman has retired with the closing year from the firm of Overpaid, Gurney, and Co.

Two London firms suspended payment on Tuesday-Messrs. Lupton, Hooton, and Co., in the Manchester trade, and Messrs. Hinton, Brothers, and Co., Italian merchants : in neither case are the liabilities very great, and in both the prospects of creditors are good.

The Norwegian Government are raising a-small loan in London to assist mercantile firms in Norway. Messrs. Baring have undertaken the arrange- ments.

Messrs. Powell and Son' Manchester warehousemen, are to pay 17s. in the pound. The cause of failure was a practice the reverse of the old- fashioned one-the senior partner drew out excessively large sums for his private expenditure, while his son took but 150/. a year : the business will be resumed by the son. Among the private property is 700 dozen of W2.

The accounts of Messrs. Svendsen and Co., who recently stopped, show a lamentable state of things for the creditors-liabilities amounting to 93,0251., and a probable dividend of 28. 6(1. in the pound. The estate is to be wounds up under inspection.

What little change had occurred in the manufacturing districts at the end of last week, had been for the better ; this week, the accounts are still more cheering.

The Staffordshire ironmasters are about to make a reduction of 20s. per ton in their prices; and they announce a reduction in wages.

CRYSTAL PALACE.-Return of admissions for six days ending Friday January 1st, including season-ticket-holders, 62,910.