FINANCIAL' NOTES.

Although British funds and gilt-edged securities have shared in the generally firm tendency of markets during recent weeks, there has been an _unmistakable tendency, to acquire all shares in any way likely to be affected by any revival in trade. Textiles descriptions, the iron group, shipping shares and some of the shares of banks have risen . of late, while, in .spite of nervousness with regard to labour, even home railway stocks have rallied a little. Some of the speculative markets, also, have brightened up considerably, a feature being the very general rise in nitrate shares, while rubber and tea and even mining shares have come in for attention.

* *

Not the least interesting feature, however, during the last few days, has been the rise' in the shares of Insurance companies, and the point is worth noting because it usually happens that when there is any general movement in shares like those of Insurance companies or of banks, the advince is ` subsequently justified by the character of the reports issued. In the following table will be found the quotations of some of the shares of leading companies at the beginning of the year, a month ago, and present quotations

1924.

Alliance . • • 131 Commercial Union .. 19 Gresham 15s. 31 Guardian .. 71 Legal and General .. 32 London and Lancashire 151 London 9 North British Mem.. 16 Northern .. 15 Prudential - . ; - • 151

151 , B...

22s.

470

540 560 23 if 281 282 91 102 ref 171 192

21* 30

351

101 101 112

Jan. 1st, July 19th, Aug-. 19th,

1924. 1924.

131 131 20 201

511 52 1

71 7 4f 41 181 20 llf 11f 181 191 151 16f

11 .ii- 111

19i 191

30s. 36s.

Royel:Bachange . .

Scot. Union & National Sun ; . s. Sun Life ..

Yorkshire ..

A. W.&