BUSY CHRISTMAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 16

BUSY CHRISTMAS

OPTIMISTIC PUBLIC

STOCK EXCHANGE ACTIVE

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.]

LONDON, December 20,

The present Christmas season is likely to be the busiest for years, despite the recent crisis which less than a fortnight ago threatened to paralyse trade. London shopping streets are crowded, despite heavy rain.

Directly the crisis was aver business leapt forward as though impelled by a released spring. The large, stores all expect to more than make up the slackening during the crisis. Another indication of returning prosperity is the heavy bookings at holiday resorts. The optimism of the general public is more than adequately reflected on the Stock Exchange, which has put crisis thoughts aside and resumed its buoyancy. Industrials have come up about 3 per cent, dkring the.week.-Gi.lt-edgeds are:firm. Responsible city men consider that the activity should continue into the New Year.

Excellent as is the general activity, commodities have held the limelight. Rubber touched lOd a lb for the first time since 1929, though profit-taking brought back the price a fraction. Base metals continue their upward trend. The slight reaction in spelter and lead' early in* the week is considered to be of little significance. Tin is likely to .rise rather than fall. The only disappointments in commodities have been cotton and dairy producer The cotton trade is pessimistic, particularly in-view of the possibility of. a, strike in Lancashire involving 110,000 operatives. This dispute,was subsequently settled lat.e'-ih the week. >