New York, Oct. 16.
The New York Stock Exchange was quiet today as prices moved irregularly within a narrow range. Experts were frankly disappointed at the market's inability to progress despite encouraging domestic business news and indications from abroad that peace is not an early prospect.
Informed quarters contend that the sluggishness reflects at least partially persistent liquidations which appear on the bulges and dry up rather quickly on declines.
From the manner in which selling is being done, it is believed that the Re liquidation is regulated and is coming from Britain, although the amount of regulated selling and the origin is a secret which may never be disclosed.
Uncertainty over the European war and the neutrality debate in Washington kept traders on the sidelines today as trading dropped to the lightest level since the outbreak of the European war.
Business continued to move forward, however, under the leadership of the steel industry. Steels opened lower today but rallied a point later. Although they eased again, they held small gains.
Aviations were firm, Coppers opened lower and closed irregular. Rails were strong in last trading—United 9.10 9.05 1400 14.10
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.