9 JUNE 1866, Page 2

A plan has been adopted at Liverpool to prevent "

attacks " upon banks in order to depreciate their shares, which will pro- bably be followed in London. The Exchange there has prohibited the sale of shares unless the numbers of such shares are inscribed upon the contract, that is, has prohibited fictitious sales. As it is not worth a seller's while to run down his own property, this rule, which will not hamper business, will prevent combinations to "bear" the market, and the various frauds which, comparatively unim- portant when directed against foreign stocks, are so fatal as against banks. Some rule of the kind is urgently required, and might in the case of banks expediently receive a sanction from Parliament.