... THIE COMMERCIAL DECA Y OF SICI Y. SICILIAN commerce is declining with alarming rapidity. The exports and imports at the port of Palermo have diminished in one year by over a million sterling, or more than one-third of the whole commerce of. the place. In addition to natural causes, this decline is attributed by Consul Stigand to the Protectionist policy of Italy, and to the war of tariffs with ...

... Onre o'clock. HIGH RATES FOR DISCOUNT.-STOCK MARKETS DULL AND INACTIVE.-ENGLISH FUNDS EASIER. The discount market is unsettled, and many brokers refuse to do business while the exports of gold to Paris continue, An advance in the Bank rate is urged as a preventive against further withdrawals, but with short money in such abundance it is very unlikely that the discount market will follow the ...

... One O'OCAC, HOME RAILWAY STOCKS STILL RISING.-OTHER MARKETS DULL AND NEGLECTED. The Money Market remains in much the same condition as it was last week. Discount rates are still very strong, and the holders of bills show little disposition to olfer them at present quotations. For th ee months' drafts 2 7-16 to 2fr per cent. is quoted; while for six months' paper the price has advanced to 2y2 ...

... TiHE METROPOLITAN WATER COMPANIES. GROWTH OF INCOME AND CAPITAL. TEE eight metropolitan water companies are not maintaining the rate of expansion which they exhibited some years since, and in one or two instances there is even a retrograde movement, but as a whole every year sees an addi- tion to their income and capital value. With the growth of London the companies are of course called upon ...

... One o'clock. STOCK MARKETS QUIET, WITH SMALL CHANGES IN PRICES FOREIGN GOVERMENT MARKET FIRM. In the money market to-day the feature is the rebound in discount rates, due to the result of the tenders for Treasury bills yesterday, and the efflux of coin to Paris. Moreover it is confidently stated that a further considerable total will have to he provided here before the gold requirements of ...