MONEY MARKET.

STOCN EECHANGE, FRIDAY Arereceoce. Up to yesterday the principal transactions in the English Market were confined to arrangements connected with the monthly settlement-in Consols. "The market has been firm throughout the week, and the closing prices of today will show a further improvement of 1 per cent upon those of last Saturday. There has been an abundant supply of money ; and, notsvith- standing the heavy amounts required Bet the 4th instant, accommodation has been obtainable at exceedingly low rates. Yesterday, although every- . thing out of doors warranted a reduction in the Bank minimum rate, seeing that the rate elsewhere was from 14 10 2 per cent lower, some little surprise was for the moment created by the sudden announcement of a reduction of 1 per cent ; but it is still expected that another 1 or 1 per cent decline will shortly take place. This, with the daily increase in the stock of bullion, the signs of ease everywhere apparent both at home and on the Continent, together with the manifest disinclination on the part of the public to encourage or launch out into new speculations, tends continually though gradually to advance the price of securities. Consols opened on Monday at 95.4 for February ; the fluctuation has been about '+ per cent ; the closing pnce today is 96 961 for March. Reduced Three per Cents, 951 90; New Three per Cents, 964 961; Exchequer Bills, 28 32 premium' Bank Stock, 225227; India Stock, 220 222. The various Stocks afloat in the Foreign Market have improved to some extent, the leading descriptions having still an upward tendency. Turkish Six per Cents, the Four per Cents, and Spanish Three per Cents, are All I per cent higher, and every other stock good at the pnee. Money it ex- tremely easy in this market, the rate being not mere than 3 per cent. The closing price in Venezuela Active is 32 33 ; Brazilian 103 104; Russian, 112 113; Spanish Three per Cents, 424 43 ; SraniZ Deferred, 26 261; Buenos Ayres, 98 100; Turkish Six per Cents, 99e 991 ; Turkish Four per Cents, 1031 104. The market closes exceedingly flrm. A very trifling amount of business has been Passing in the Railway Share Market throughout the week • the variations, however, have in some in- stances exceeded 1 per cent, and quotations close today at an average im- provement of about 10s. to 158. per share. It is some tune since the market has been characterized by so great an absence of business. Great Western leave off at 611 614 • Midland, 951 954 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire 931 934 ,• London and North-Western, 1011 1011 ; London and South-Western, 981 99. Caledonian continues to advancer leaving off at 471 471 ; South- Eastern and Dover, 224 224; London and Brighton, 106 107; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 40e 404; North Staffordshire, 34 21. ; Great Northern, 261 261.• Prices close firm this afternoon, but there is little busi- ness doing. The French Market has been weak, but closes somewhat firmer, less un-- easiness being felt about the political relations of England and France: ,Paris and Lyons, 341 36; Northern of France, 381 39; Paris and Stras- bourg, 28 284. The Winn Market, though slightly improved, has been dull ; the public waiting the effect of the forthcoming Loan, the nature of which is not yet known. East Indian, 108e 1094' Great Indian Peninsula, 211 214; Ma- dlues20/. Shares, 21 211.

SATURDAY, TWELVE O'CLOCII.

The Bank return of-this week gives an increase of 394,792/. in the stak of bullion. -Stocks are dull again this morning, but there is nothing doing all round worthy of notice. Consols after business hours yesterday ad- vanced to 964 buyers ; they are this morning flat at 96 964.

SATURDAY, ONE o'CLorix.

The markets close with a much -firmer appearance; Consols are 4 better —961 961. Railway Shares are also firm at an average advance:of 58. per share. There has been a good business doing in Joint-Stock Banks. The following are the latest operations marked on the list— Caledonian 944; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 68; Great Northern, 1064; Ditto A Stock, 92; Ditto B Stock, 132; Great Western, 614; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 934; London, Brighton, and South Coast, 1071 ; London and North-Western, 402; London and South-Western, 994; Midland, 961 ; North-Eastern—Berwick, 98. Joint Stock Banks—Australasia, SC' Char- tered Bank of India, Australia, and China, 74; London Chartered Bank of Australia, 19; London and County, 301 ; Ottoman Bank, 204; Provincial of Ireland, 601 ; South Australia, 35; Union of London, 23/. Iiiscella- neous—Crystal Palace, 14; Eastern Steam, 4e ; Peninsular and Oriental Steam, 80; Royal Mail Steam, 611.

Ditto for Account 961 96. Ditto 4 per Cents 991 I 3 per Cent Reduced 96 96 Mexican 3 per Cents 201 1 New 3 per Cents 96/ 964 Peruvian 41 per cents 79 81

Long Annuities 2 1-16 24 Ditto 3 per Cents 54 56 Exchequer Bills 28 32 Russian 5 per Cents 111 113 India Stock 220 222 Ditto 41 per Cents 99 101 Austrian 5 per Cents 90 93 Spanish 3 per Cents ' 421 43 Brazilian 5 per Cents 102 104 Ditto Deferred 26 24

Belgian 41 per Cents 97 99 Sardinian 5 per Cents 89 91

Chili= 6 per Cents 103 105 Swedish 4 per Cents 80 83

. The report submitted to the proprietors of the London and County Bank, at their meeting on Thursday, was of a favourable character. A dividend of 6 per cent was declared, making 11 per e,ent for the year. It was stated that the monetary crisis affected the bank only to a limited extent. Some of John Sadleir's estates have been sold at '25 per cent above the engine' cost. The amount due to customers is 3,533,426/.

At the meeting of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, on Wednesday, the report was adopted and the dividend of 3 per cent for the half-year declared. It was explained that the less of 25001. to 30001. at Melbourne arose from a collusive fraud between a customer and a clerk; the customer has been sentenced to fine and imprisonment ; but the clerk has escaped.

At the annual meeting of the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Banking Company, on Monday, the report of the Directors was of a favourable kind : the new capital has been paid-up, the business of the bank is to be carried on with greater prudence, and the bad bill system off the district is to be vigorously opposed.

A special meeting of the shareholders of the Western Bank of Scotland was held on Tuesday. Much blueness was transacted. The resolution to wind-up was confirmed. It was stated that the position of affairs had not materially altered of late : the deficiency is still put at 304,692/. It was resolved, "That Robert Lumsden, Inspector of the Bank of Scotland, James Simpson Fleming, present Manager 'pro tempore' of the Western Bank, Charles Gardiner, accountant in Glasgow, and Samuel Raleigh, ac- countant in Edinburgh, be severally appointed liquidators, in terms of the _ act, for the purpose of winding-up voluntarily, the affairs of the Company " ; also, that Mr. Lumsden be paid 20007. per annum, and the other gentlemen 10001. per annum, for the first two years. It came out that the security of Taylor, the late manager, had never been completed during the four years he acted : only three out of four " cautionere " had signed the bond, and . Taylor has carried off even this incomplete instrument.

The South-Western Railway dividend will be 21 per cent for the half- year making a total of 5 per cent for the past year.

The dividend of the Great Western Railway is to be at the rate of 2 per cent per annum' with a balance of 20,000/. carried forward.

The dividend of the Midland Railway will be at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, making 41 per cent for 1857.

The dividend of the Electric and International Telegraph Company is at the rate of 8 per cent per annum.

The Australian Agricultural Company have declared a dividend of 1/. per share.