GOVERNMENT 'STOCKS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 148, 18 March 1940, Page 12

GOVERNMENT 'STOCKS

London Market Easier (By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright.) LONDON. Marell 14. Tlie following table gives tlie mean Stock Exchange quotations for consols and colonial inscribed slocks coniparel with those of Marell 7

Pan-American Bank Convention (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON. Marell 14. The United States Administration has announced that it is proposed to sign the inter-Americau batik convention. ‘Tlieannouncement is expected to spur on the establishment of the organization. Tlie inter-Ameriean Economic and Financial Committee created by tlie .declaration of Panama early in February last approved plans for an inter-Americau bank with capital of 100,000,000 dollars designed to implement economic co-opera-tion with the Western Hemisphere and cushion the American natious against economic shocks resulting from tlie European war. The South American republics were asked to appoint delegates to sign the convention on April 14, and it will be operative when at least five nations subscribing at least 145 shares ratify the convention. Each nation is to subscribe capital stock which will total 1000 shares, iu proportion to its foreign trade in 11)38. Tlie United States, Argentina and Brazil will be the largest bloc with 50 shares each. Myer Emporium The directors of the Myer Emporium, Melbourne, report that sales have been well maintained for the half-year ended January 31, and compare favourably with the corresponding period last year. As the mark-up on all Myer merchandise is as a matter of policy held constant at standardized rates from year to year, the percentage of gross prolit to sales for the half-year is the same as in previous similar periods. While a slight upward tendency is evident in costs —partly in wages, but principally in cost, of supplies and of overseas operations—the percentage of expense to snlcs compares with the corresponding period l(ist year. Stocks are reported as in a satisfactory condition at a higher figure than at this time last year, due to precautionary wartime purchasing. As a result of this forward buying it has so far been possible to continue selling the greater part of Myer merchandise' nt little or no increase on pre-war prices. The directors have declared half-yearly unchanged interim ordinary dividend of 3 per cent., payable to shareholders on Saturday, April 6. The directors also state that should the next half-year be equally satisfactory a bonus will be added to the final dividend then payable.

1 V ’rice. s. d. Variation U S. d. Consols, 2} pc 0 9 0 10 ()• Fund. Loan, 4, 19GU-9O 11'0 <i 1 9 0* War Loan, 31. I97>2 . 90 0 0 0 HI 9* ('(Hiv. Loan, ‘>4, 19G1 98 0 0 1 0 II* Vietorv Bonds, I- • • 109 ],) 0 ■1 10 0* (’’wealth. 5. 1915-73 • 10b 7 G 9 HI Ip C" wealth. 4. 11113-IS . !<•-’ 12 G J 12 o* Cweallh, 3], PJIS-.73 1(10 < I) 'I 5 0* ("wealth, XL !!»5i>G1 93 17 G I) 15 (P ("wealth. 3, 19.7.7->S . 'JI _ b || 12 0* N.S.W.. 31, 1930-5(1 .. 9.8 0 0 0 1.7 0‘ Victoria, 3. 1929- IP . . li-i 12 G II i G* Victoria. 4‘L j94(i-GO • Hil 0 9 1) 5 0* Victoria, 5. 1915-75 . 1<H5 a II 0 2 IjQ'laml, 3. 1922-17 . . 90 2 G 0 10 0“ Q’Jaiid. J, r.HO-OO ... loo 2 b 0 5 0* X. .(list., 3. UHO (opt.) i < i 1 > o 5 o; S Aust.. 5, 1111-7-7,7 . . 1O0 HI 0 II 2 Gf \V. Aust.. 4. 1942-02 . . 99 15 0 0 17 0* TllSlll.. 4, 1910-70 ... 100 15 0 0 12 (!♦ N.Z., 4* 19IS-5S .... 102 1.4 0 0 7 ip V 7. '! 101.7 90 li 0 7 G* (•Higher. -Lower.