[Strangely unfamiliar.]“A year has passed since the US kept its first recent Christmas of disillusionment ... We cannot fail to look about our own doorsteps with more than ordinary sympathy. ... This Christmas season is the beautifully appropriate time for a generous courage in helping others to help themselves, for doing more than a too prudent minimum toward re-creating busy workshops and homes of secure contentment. ... This year the day may well be one for unwontedly humble searching of minds and hearts ... That cannot render the day less beneficient than it has been these 20 centuries.”
Assorted historical stuff:
[Strangely familiar.] NY State to investigate short selling of bank stocks and spreading of false rumors in connection with Chelsea Bank failure; various brokers subpoenaed. J. Wayne, Phila. Clearing House pres., says banking situation in Philadelphia back to normal.
[Pretty amazing ... kind of makes you feel bad about what happens.]S. Insull, electric utility executive, says recovery from depression won't happen overnight; gains must be fought for and held. However, in the long run, in spite of depressions and even panics, progress continues. “When I remember that with my own hands I gave the first service on the first telephone exchange ever installed in London; when I remember that the vast industry with which I am connected was not even a dream when I was born... when I remember that the invention of automotive transportation, airplanes, and a thousand other things ... have all been achieved during my day, how can I think that we even know what ... tomorrow may require of us?”
Washington report: Republicans are increasingly calling for the party to “come to grips with the insurgent element in a definite and final manner ... If the process means party disruption and possibly a national defeat, there are plenty willing to let that come.” Matter has come to a head due to feud between Sen. Norris, who bolted the party's Presidential candidate in 1928, and R. Lucas, party leader, who is being investigated for secretly paying for literature opposing Sen. Norris in the recent election. It can at least be said for Sen. Norris that he “insurges quite as actively” in election years, unlike most of the insurgents who “manage to get on the edge of the reservation” around reelection time. Sen. Wagner (D, NY) will introduce Federal unemployment insurance bill; opponents see danger from “the political demagogue demanding increasingly liberal provisions until he finally has something very like the dole.” This could be avoided by having private industries and states cooperate to set up the system.
AFL pres. W. Green puts current US total of unemployed at 5.3M. However, seasonal Nov. increase was only 5% vs. 28% in 1929 and 17% in 1928.
Editorial: The Farm Board now says the US farmer can't compete on the world market. “Possibly the American breast will swell with pride as the majestic strains of that Song of Defeat pour from the throats of the $500,000,000 choir, but probably it will not.” The US farmer can compete by using more efficient production on larger farms, and by crop rotation and fertilization; if the Farm Board used its remaining $100M to encourage this “the song of defeat would be forgotten.”
Rawleigh Foundation attributes movement of US pop. from farms to cities over past 30 years to agricultural depression and unfair taxation of farms.
US shipyards in 1930 built private yachts costing a total of over $20M; have contracted to build more than this in 1931.
Pan American Airways to start new Miami - Jamaica - Panama route Dec. 30, requiring 7-hour flight over Caribbean; will be longest over-water route by almost 400 miles, and a “laboratory line” for developing service across the Atlantic. Details of service worked out by technical committee headed by Col. Lindbergh.
[Somehow this never catches on ... ] Public mores have been radically changing. Fifteen years ago men stared when a woman showed her ankle, and a woman smoking a cigarette was enough to bring the world crashing down. Even greater changes seem to be in store; the French tobacco monopoly has now created a cigar especially for women.
The Cotton Exchange celebrated Christmas with a rousing display; firecrackers exploded around the exchange floor and the room was filled with confetti and colored ticker tape. An old-timer said the scene was the happiest he'd witnessed on the Exchange in a quarter century.
Market commentary:
Market wrap: Stocks opened firm and advanced steadily on quiet holiday trading, with many traders out until next week. Bonds higher on very dull trading; US govts. firm; foreign steady; corp. generally higher. Commodities firm on narrow trading.
Oils were a weak spot following last week's increase in gasoline storage. Coppers were strong after Anaconda maintained its regular dividend. American Tobacco and Woolworth were strong.
American Tobacco has had success in concentrating on its Lucky Strike cigarette brand; its sales will increase about 6B this year, while the industry as a whole will produce about 119B, almost unchanged from last year. Sales of other Amer. Tobacco brands have held surprisingly well.
Conservative observers see improvement in rail securities within next few months; should benefit from consolidation and from any improvement in general business.
Market resistance to selling pressure after closing of Chelsea Bank Tuesday considered encouraging, sign of strong technical position.
Extent of decline in foreign trade in Nov. was unexpected by govt. officials who had looked for only a slight seasonal decline.
Year-end inventories are expected in most cases to be the lowest in many years; one expert estimated total inventories might be 50% under a year ago.
Steel industry production is now as low as it's been in 25 years, but large companies are in better shape than in past depressions; most continue to pay dividends.
Bond market comment: Recent sharp reaction seen due to “local causes of a transitory nature” [probably meaning bank failures]; however, “credit position of the country is strong, money is cheap, and prospects point to a steady improvement from now on.” Highest grade municipals have held up relatively well; average price decline was about 2% from Oct. 15 - Dec. 16. Foreign loans of $362.7M scheduled to mature in 1931 vs. $115.7M in 1930, but refinancing has already been arranged for most of the total.
Surprise cut in New York Fed. rediscount rate didn't seem to bring strong reaction in stock and bond trading, though financial community is said pleased with “open door” [easy credit] policy of the Fed. Aside from effect on credit, the rate cut is calculated for psychological effect. Main result will be to simulate bond market, but it's believed the cut will also benefit other securities. “There is a general feeling that this reduction in the local bank rate may easily prove to be the turning point in the whole economic and financial situation, here and, ultimately, throughout the world.”
“The year closes with the picture radically changed from the end of 1929. Stocks and bonds today are as cheap as they were expensive only a little over a year ago. The pendulum has swung too far in the other direction in the case of many high-grade securities.”
Economic news and individual company reports:
First 15 rails report Nov. net operating income down 44.7% from Oct., 26.0% from Nov. 1929, and 37.3% from Nov. 1928; gross revenue was down 19.6%, 18.0%, and 21.2%, resp.
Eastern rail conference on consolidation continues between representatives of main lines (Pennsylvania, New York Central, the Van Sweringen's Chesapeake & Ohio - Nickel Plate system, Baltimore & Ohio); good progress reported.
US Steel ingot production for week ended last Monday was at 41% vs. 44% prev. week and 64% in 1929; independents were at 30%, vs. 33% and 62.5%; industry total was 34%, vs. 37% and 63%. Substantial reduction to as little as 20% expected this week due to holiday shutdowns, but a relatively sharp expansion is expected early next year.
Fed. Reserve reports 981 US banks closed in the first 11 months of 1930, a record high; 236 failed in Nov.
S.W. Straus estimates US conservatively needs $4.5B of public works construction, not including private building. About $1.2B is currently going forward.
Worldwide assoc. of tin producers proposes two-year program of export restriction.
Java sugar producers seen unlikely to cooperate with production cut plan; raw sugar declines 5-9 points, with Dec. futures at 1.11 cents/pound.
French wine crop disastrous; 1.109B gallon total vs. 1.663B in 1929, poorest in decade in both quality and quantity.
Steamships operating Caribbean cruises report unprecedented holiday demand. Bookings have been slack for round-the-world cruises.
NYSE seat sold for $200,000, off $10,000 from previous sale.
Companies reporting decent earnings: Briggs Mfg. (auto bodies, only large co. in the industry to show profit gain over 1929).
Reo Motors bucks severe slump in rest of industry; new car registrations in 39 states for Nov. are up 38% vs. 1929, compared to industry decline of 46%.
Depression joke:
The editor of a Minneapolis newspaper dictated a letter to the pres. of one of the largest banks there asking for a 300 word end of year summary of business conditions. Unfortunately, the two zeros were inadvertently dropped by the typist; the reply received was “Gone to hell.”
[Starring Jimmy Stewart as J. Wayne.] Philadelphia bank depositors assured by leading bankers and Clearing House assoc. that all funds needed by any bank would be made available immediately. This followed a run at Franklin Trust Monday night, during which J. Wayne, Clearing House pres., mounted a table and told the crowd of depositors the bank was as safe as any in Philadelphia. Most of the crowd then left; Mayor Mackey also reassured depositors in the morning. Chelsea Bank, a NY institution with $18.9M in deposits, closed (not member of Fed or NY Clearing House). T.E. Hambleton, pres. of Hambleton & Co. private bank of Baltimore, commits suicide at 44. H Baetjer, friend and counsel, says affairs of the bank in good condition; friends attributed suicide to domestic troubles and death of brother in plane crash a year ago. Private bank Pallotti, Andretta & Co. in Hartford, Conn. closed. City Bank of Miami Beach closed; affiliate of the National Bank that closed yesterday.
French Oustric affair, initially represented as affecting only a narrow circle of speculators with a relatively small monetary loss, has turned into a big political and financial event. Together with the failure of Banque Adam, with thousands of depositors, it seems to have caused a shock to the nerves of many in France. There has been a large scale withdrawal of money from big banks, and the big banks have in turn called balances from abroad; as a result, between mid-Sept and end of year about 6B francs in gold will have been imported. This is likely to cause domestic currency inflation and penalize French exports.
[Somehow I doubt the Madoff investors get 37% ... ] Final chapter in the Ponzi saga, at least as far as “investors” are concerned; they get a final dividend of 1/2%, bringing total recovery to 37 1/2% of claims, paid out in a series of dividends since Dec. 1921. Mr. Ponzi remains in jail.
Editorial: Congress continues to misbehave; most recent antics include Senate's washing of Republican dirty linen concerning the party's efforts to defeat Sen. Norris (R., Neb.), and Rep. McFadden's ridiculous accusations against Eugene Meyer in advising the Senate to reject him as Fed. Reserve Gov.
President's Emergency Committee for Employment asks farmers to help by undertaking all construction work practical at this time.
London printing firm of Waterlow & Sons tricked into printing unauthorized Portuguese bank notes by “a Dutchman named Marang.”
Former Rumanian premier Vintila Bratianu dead of apoplexy.
Denmark establishes modern fish canning factory manned by Eskimos, North of the Arctic Circle in Holstenberg, Greenland.
Human hair has the property of expanding and contracting along with changes in humidity, and is therefore used in making scientific instruments like the hydrograph, used in weather observatories all over the world to record humidity. Best hair for this purpose is from redheaded girls, since it absorbs more water.
Cleveland reaches agreement to host National Air Races for next 10 years.
Unemployed apple vendor's chant: “Hyah, folks, an apple fit for a Prime Minister; distinguous, chick, and dainty; hyah, hyah.”
Market commentary:
Market wrap: Stocks moved narrowly in “pre-holiday” atmosphere; weak opening was followed by midday recovery; some late weakness after local bank closing. Industrial leaders, coppers, and rails showed strength. Bonds weaker on more active trading; US govts. slightly lower, foreign generally steady; corp. mostly lower with highest grade steadier. Commodities mixed, closing with relatively small changes.
Conservative observers advise remaining on sidelines until more accurate information on trade in the new year.
Market observers are watching yearly low levels; a breakthrough to new lows is believed to indicate further decline, while holding above previous lows indicates strength.
Brokers are increasingly allowing customers to carry margin on stocks under $10 due to the rising number of such stocks.
Movements in silver price are being watched closely; recent decline in commodities was led by the white metal.
Recent investment buying said counteracting negative influence of commodity prices, bank failures, and tax selling.
Article by H. Alloway praising self-regulation of NYSE; while Exchange constitution isn't ponderously detailed as law books, it deals with principles and can be swiftly and equitably enforced due to the absolute authority of Governors over members; indeed, penalties are often inflicted for acts violating no formal laws.
A. Sloan, GM pres., says world going through major economic readjustment; hopes we can, through better knowledge, determine underlying cause of business cycles. While not forecasting when things will turn, says no cause for discouragment, better order is sure to result, and eventually greater prosperity than ever before.
J. Klein, asst. Commerce Sec., returns from 2-month European survey; depression there severe; France feeling first effects. No signs of immediate recovery but noticeable change in attitude to US business, general realization US must lead recovery.
[Those patterns again ... ] E. Gruhl, North American Co. (electric utility) GM, sees similarity in pattern of all previous business depressions, inevitable sequel of vigorous recovery. “It is human nature to exaggerate, and to forget ... Every depression has seemed at the moment radically different and more severe than all previous ones. The 1930 depression has been no exception, yet it is of the same pattern as the others.”
C. Minor, Internat'l GE pres., says co. business in Europe very satisfactory, electrical industry resisting depression better than any other line of business.
AT&T has attracted considerable investment buying, with yield now over 5% and shareholders now numbering over 580,000.
Traction stocks were weak on reports of complications in unification negotiations.
Economic news and individual company reports:
Fed. Reserve takes first step in renewed easy money policy, lowering New York discount rate 1/2% to record low for US of 2% and lowest currently in the world; expected to take further steps to “make money easier and more plentiful than it has been at any time since the depression started.”
Income tax receipts for July 1 - Dec. 20 were $1.082B vs. $1.163B in 1929; receipts for Q4 may run above earlier estimates by $15M-$19M.
Rail freight loadings for week ended Dec. 13 were 744,443 cars, down 42,730 from prev. week and down 178,418 or 19.3% from 1929 week.
Gasoline stocks at refineries Dec. 20 were 39.016M barrels, up 1.336M in week; refineries operated at 65.3% vs. 64% prev. week; oil production was 2.202M barrels/day, down 30,650 from prev. week and down 431,600 from 1929.
Following ruling by Florida Supreme Court requiring city of Sanford to raise taxes to provide for debt service, city asks bondholders to negotiate modification to ease burden on community; bondholders say willing to discuss some modification, will continue with legal proceedings if unable to agree.
Northwest Bancorp. monthly review says holiday trade in 10 Northwestern states running well ahead of expectations 60 days ago.
Commerce Dept. reports foreign trade of 62 countries, representing over 92% of all world trade, totalled $27.282B in first 6 months vs. $31.774B in 1929.
Iron Age reports usual year-end shutdowns in steel plant operations may drive production below 25%, but Jan. specifications continue to improve, indicating upturn early in new year.
Farm Board reports producers of over 40 crops helped by Agricultural Marketing Act through 12,000 farmers' cooperative associations with 2M members.
German unemployment relief headquarters announces German unemployed on Dec. 15 were 3.977M.
Australian banks protest heavy demands by govt. on resources, say this may force drastic curtailment of service to other customers, losses to industry.
Bank of France Gov. Moret tells parliamentary commission investigating Oustric bank failure the central bank will probably suffer no loss due to the affair.
Marshall Field & Co. stock about 28; 1929 earnings $5.02/share, 1930 estimate $4/share; yield 9%.
Aluminum Co. of America still selling at relatively high multiple of 20 times expected 1930 earnings based on long-pull optimism on aluminum industry.
Joke:
“Dubious Person - I've been getting threatening letters through the mail. Isn't there a law against that? Postoffice Inspector - Of course there is. It's a very serious offense to send threatening letters. Have you any idea who's doing it? Dubious Person - Sure. The Woofus Furniture Co.”
Musical:
Ballyhoo, a musical comedy starring W.C. Fields, who “manages to be incessantly funny without attempting to be sophisticated or going around the corner of the old barn for a joke.” Mr. Fields plays Q.Q. Quale, sponsor of a transcontinental foot race and in love with the sinuous Goldie La Marr. Mr. Fields juggles cigar boxes, plays pool and poker, and is several times on the verge of playing the bass violin, but someone always comes in (the bass violin finally gives birth to a lot of little violins). [Note: he really was a good juggler - this one is amazing, especially the cigar boxes:]
[Still no banking crisis here .... ]Bankers Trust of Philadelphia closed after heavy withdrawals; had 135,000 depositors, total deposits $42.5M; Penn. Sec. of Banking says financial situation in Philadelphia sound, no reason for depositors in other banks to be alarmed. City National Bank in Miami closes after heavy withdrawals; had deposits of $5.9M; E. Black, Fed. Reserve Bk. of Atlanta Gov., says other Miami banks sound. Four of five banks in Greenwood, Miss. closed, also banks in N.C., Mo., Ind., Ga.
[Strangely familiar.]Fed. Reserve policy will make banking funds more plentiful in early 1931 than any time in the current depression. This should eventually extend easy short-term money rates in financial centers to the long term money market and throughout the country; should stimulate bond and mortgage markets. Fed plans to keep close to the current $700M in govt. securities and over $1B credit outstanding even after holidays when demand for credit slackens.
In spite of “bickerings and demagogy,” Congress is making fair progress. It has already passed bills for $116M emergency construction, $45M drought relief, and $150M Farm Board appropriation. Muscle Shoals agreement seems near; World Court issue was postponed. Regular appropriations to be acted on when holiday recess ends Jan. 5.
US population continues moving to cities; 56.2% of the 122.8M population in the 1930 census live in urban communities vs. 51.4% in 1920.
Farm Board chair. Legge says if world wheat prices continue decline, some may be imported to US [in spite of tariff].
Editorial: Rails should be set free to compete with rival forms of transport. A natural monopoly is regulated as the only possible substitute for free competition; once the monopoly character of the business disappears, so does the basis for regulation. Rails should be allowed to operate trucks, cut rates to meet competition, and discontinue service on branches that highways have made unprofitable.
Int'l Labor Office statistics show 7.197M unemployed in 32 countries between June-Oct. 1930 vs. 4.873M in 1929; however, the Office estimates a “vastly greater” number of jobless because some countries only report registered unemployed or unemployed union members.
Mexico passes new agrarian law prohibiting land expropriation unless cash payment is made.
[Strangely unfamiliar.] On grounds that necessity knows no rules, Italian govt. orders sweeping cuts in govt. salaries, ranging from 12% (on salaries up to 40,000 lire) to 35% (on salaries over 60,000). Ministers of state are also subject to the program. Govt. also ordered 8% cut in industrial wages, and is negotiating cut in agricultural wages.
C. Dewey returns from 3 years as economic advisor to Poland; says country has balanced budget, sound conditions, only 200,000 unemployed in 30M pop. Believes depression not as severe as in neighbors because Poland is mostly agricultural.
Scattered bartering has broken out for wheat. Sparta, Mich. barbers offer a haircut plus 27 cents cash for a bushel; Rural Canadian hockey teams offer a first class ticket for a bushel.
Norman Thomas, Socialist leader, asks Gov. Roosevelt for investigation of NY State Banking Dept. in connection with Bank of U.S. with object of recommending needed changes in banking law. NY Bureau of Securities presents draft of Martin act amendments to make it harder for fraudulent brokers to operate in NY.
[Probably worked better than video ... seriously.] Golf champion Bobby Jones to give series of 26 weekly radio lessons on golf.
Market commentary:
Market wrap: Stocks declined for most of the session, gathering momentum in final hour, but scale support was evident and declines within normal technical bounds after the sharp rally. Bank shares broke sharply near the close. Bond market mixed; US govts. dull, steady; foreign mostly higher; corp. mixed, with speculative and convertibles particularly weak. Commodities mixed; grains down sharply to new lows but copper producers raised prices 1/4 cent to 10 1/4.
Examination of bear markets for the past 30 years shows that in a declining period, prices always rallied substantially from Dec. lows before end of the year.
Considerable belated tax selling said still going on based on appearance on tape of “numerous oddly sized blocks of various stocks.”
Specialties that had rallied sharply for the past few days suffered the greatest losses.
Broad Street Gossip: “Overproduction and stock market inflation are cited by economists as the chief causes of the present depression. Therefore, under-production and deflation should be the cures.” Stocks and commodities have been deflated, possibly overly so. “In many lines, production is running below actual demand, with inventories just large enough to keep business going. If that condition continues, it will be the master cure for business ills.”
[It's that 1% that kills you.] Broad Street Gossip: “I go on the theory that 99% of the things you hear when we are in a bear market are not going to happen.”
Winthrop, Mitchell & Co. point to banking leadership in the past week as having “definitely pulled the market out of a difficult situation,” also as having “ironed out many troubles and perplexities which had been upsetting people and their calculations.”
Leading bankers commended for cooperation after Bank of U.S. closing; “such a development in the past often upset conditions for a long period.”
Harvard Economic Society: Business decline “far advanced in extent and duration”; many recent developments discouraging. However, first-grade rails have held above 1929 lows and building has shown signs of stability; these usually lead recovery. Expect general business to bottom “during first half - probably first quarter - and show gradual revival the rest of the year.”
W. Farish, Humble Oil pres., says believes depression will end within 6 months, co. will try to keep all employees.
[Rare realistic commentary.]S. Strawn, Montgomery Ward chair., sees nothing to indicate upturn in business for “some months to come.” Depression “pretty bad all over”; all European countries with possible exception of France suffering about equally to US; early recovery requires world cooperation; won't hazard guess about next year, best one can do is hope for a turn for the better.
The usual strength hasn't been evident in stocks benefitting from holiday trade, including chain stores, Bulova, and Hiram Walker.
Economic news and individual company reports:
US citizens spent about two-thirds of the $7.5B world travel bill for 1930.
Wholesale gasoline price cut in NY and New England; Standard Oil NJ cuts diesel fuel oil.
Nov. US cigarette production was 7.952B vs. 9.041B in 1929.
Australian wheat harvest expected to be a record by far; some difficulty expected in financing marketing due to crop size, various plans being considered.
British loss of gold to France continues in spite of rising money rates in London over past few days (3 month bills at 2 7/16%).
Bank of Montreal Nov. report sees little change in Canadian business conditions aside from holiday retail activity; attributes business dullness to decline in farm product prices.
World tin situation seen difficult, production cuts needed, some producers reluctant; very long term outlook promising due to limited reserves.
G. Sloan, Cotton Textile Institute pres., says the industry made tremendous strides this year and is in excellent statistical condition.
11 Brooklyn and Manhattan savings banks show $25.4M gain in deposits for first 2 weeks of Dec., very unusual for holiday period.
Companies reporting decent earnings: Kansas City Pwr. & Light, McGraw-Hill, Rath Packing, Wesson Oil, De Beers Consol. Mines.
Montgomery-Ward making strenuous effort to stimulate winder sales; midwinter “Flyer” catalog will have 248 pages vs. 168 last year, about 4,000 items with price cuts of 10%-25% from fall and winter catalogs; continues easy payment plan.
Theater:
Tony Sarg's Marionettes will begin 13th annual Christmas show on Broadway at the Belmont; show will be Alice in Wonderland; said to be more elaborate than previous shows including Treasure Island, Don Quixote, and Rip Van Winkle.
Poem by E.R. Hoyt:
“Who's to blame for China's woes, Her famine, misery and strife - ... Why - Hoover. Who's to blame for Europe's plight, Love replaced by bitter hate. Doles for hordes of hungry men, Who deserve a better fate? Why - Hoover. ... Who's to blame for every ill, From chillblains to sore throat? We cannot face our foolishness, Where can we find a handy goat? Why - Hoover. When men wake up and face the facts, Admit their greediness and sin That each and all have been at fault, Appreciation will begin - For Hoover.”
Washington report: Pres. Hoover credited with successfully cracking the whip on Congress, a turnaround from his previous reputation of giving way too easily. Farm Board's need of new $150M appropriation was severe; testimony showed Board was down to its last $2M. Washington seen more realistic on depression, “turning a cold eye on the various sponsors of panaceas.” White House denies reports Pres. Hoover plans to call extra session of Congress to take up World Court protocol. House Dem. leader Garner taking early steps to “organize” the next House; which party does this is likely to remain unsettled to the last moment.
[Some surprisingly high numbers.] R. Ashton, Amer. Railway Assoc. pres., estimates cost of waste, loss, injuries, and deaths due to motor traffic in 1930 as about $3B, or three-fourths of the entire Federal budget. Suggests education, action by states and cities, uniform laws. Number of US homes wired for electricity has doubled to 20M since 1923 reaching about 68% of US homes. Domestic electric use has continued to grow well although industrial use is down. Total electricity usage in first 9 months was up over 1929, but has shown small declines vs. 1929 in recent weeks.
Eastern rail presidents reported meeting on consolidation; Washington authorities said urging them to settle differences. ICC would of course have final say on any plan.
[Strangely unfamiliar.] French Minister of Justice announces proceedings against 181 bankers, of whom 35 were arrested.
Spanish Gen. D. Berenguer reportedly decides to end dictatorship, bring about parliamentary rule.
Argentina Fed. of Industry advises increased purchase of British goods in exchange for British purchase of Argentine agricultural products.
Woolworth London store selling light bulbs at suspiciously low 12 cent price; Sir H. Hirst, British GE pres., believes bulbs were dumped on market by Russia.
NY and NJ officials discuss construction of second tunnel to be built by Port of NY Authority between 38 St and Weehawken [Lincoln tunnel].
NY Gov. Roosevelt Agric. Advisory Committee recommends setting up state-controlled regional food markets as outlet for farmers and to reduce costs.
Col. Lindbergh's farmhouse in New Jersey, bought to get away from curious crowds, is being overrun by curiousity seekers “swarming over the place every Sunday ... picking up anything that is loose for souvenirs.”
A wealthy Wall Street man has hired 10 unemployed men and women to address and deliver his Christmas cards this year.
Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp. new airship dock at Akron, Ohio recently completed [world's largest structure without interior supports, dimensions are 1,175 feet long by 325 feet wide by 211 feet high]; opening guarded by two steel doors weighing 600 tons each.
[Finally studying something useful dept.] Standard Brands establishes research fellowship at Yale Univ. for study of chemical changes that occur in coffee as it ages.
Only one of 130 mail bags has been recovered intact from the wreck of the St. Sunniva steamer on the Shetland Islands last April. The mail was recently delivered to the recipients; all of it consisted of demand notices from the income tax collector.
Market commentary:
Market wrap: Stocks continued to show improved tone; trading was light but most activity was upward, with particular strength in autos, utilities, tractions, and some specialties recently under bear pressure. Bonds continue strong rally; US and foreign govts. generally steady, corp. very strong with widespread sharp rallies. Commodities mixed; cotton up, grains weak.
Week in review: Selling climax in stocks reached at start of week; sharp turnaround to rally mid-Wed.. Trading slowed at end of week. Sustained recovery expected into new year. Action in bonds similar to stocks, with sharp rally following drastic decline. Money market steady in spite of banking emergency caused by Bank of U.S. failure and runs on other banks; prompt Fed. Reserve action credited. Steel forward buying improved. Grain prices very weak, though near-term wheat months were supported by Farm Board. Cotton hit new low, then rallied irregularly. British gold drain continued. Far East silver currencies weak.
Conservative observers still advise picking up standard stocks on reactions, using stops to protect accounts.
Demand by short sellers in the stock loan market was slow.
Recent action has demonstrated danger in shorting stocks with small number of shares outstanding; Auburn, J.I. Case, and Worthington Pump have rallied sharply.
Broad Street Gossip: “For several months, one heard of nothing but 'distress selling.' Now, one hears about 'distress buying.'” [short covering]
Better stock market prospects seen into the new year. Sharp upturn in bonds and rail stocks (Dow 40-bond avg. up over a point, rail avg. up 8 points) over the past few days should greatly help sentiment. Respite seen from bad news until yearly earnings reports begin in Feb. Seasonal steel upturn expected.
An officer of Elec. Household Utilities Corp. sees business recovery soon based on optimistic reports from NY together with pessimistic ones from the West; based on theory that business changes travel across US from East to West, this indicates upcoming improvement.
So. Cal Edison pres. R. Ballard says business conditions in their territory about 90% of last 5 years average; while unable to predict 1931 outlook for US as a whole, sees no doubt California will have “early return to normal conditions.”
About $400M of fixed investment trusts (similar to ETF's) will be in US investors' hands at end of 1930, roughly triple the volume distributed before 1930.
Old investment trusts in England and Scotland were reportedly consistent buyers of standard dividend paying stocks during the last market decline.
Commerce Dept. reports German business poor, difficult winter expected; Japan and China improved; Latin and South America slow, with some modest improvements.
July wheat futures hit 66 5/8 cents, low since 1901, before recovering to 67 1/8, but earlier months remained 10 - 14 cents higher due to Farm Board support.
Economic news and individual company reports:
Treasury reports income tax receipts Dec. 1-18 were $367.3M vs. $410.4M; for July 1 - Dec. 18 $977.8M vs. $1.079B.
Editorial: Agriculture Dept. estimates for upcoming wheat planting presents sobering picture; winter wheat crop alone may provide enough for US supply, leaving spring crop as surplus. Argentine, Australian wheat crop estimates much above last year. Farm Board may have its hands full in continuing to support wheat prices.
Per capita wheat consumption has been declining in US and Europe but increasing in South America, Africa, and “East Indies.”
Irving Fisher's index of 200 commodities for week ended Dec. 19 was 79.4 vs. 79.8 previous week and vs. 92.8 a year ago.
Oil discovered in Eastern Colorado, Northern Wyoming.
Worldwide tin producers negotiating production cut along similar lines to sugar producers (Chadbourne plan).
Sentiment in silver market improved on Mexican plan for stabilization; prices remain near record low of 31 5/8 cents/ounce.
Butter and egg futures recovered slightly toward end of last week (after falling to record lows for the season midweek).
Sales of electric clocks in 1930 estimated at double to triple 1929 total of 350,000 units.
Some 1930 profit estimates: AT&T $10.50/share vs. $12.67 in 1929; Westinghouse above $2 vs. $2.78; Macy's - $5.45 vs. $6.70; Sears $3 vs. $6.62.
L. Rosenwald, Sears VP, says fall trade is below expectations; volume compares well with 1929, but “marked tendency to purchase cheaper merchandise.” Outlook for 1931 unclear, don't expect much encouragement in spring.
Joke:
“Lady - can you give me a room and a bath? Clerk - I can give you a room, madam, but you will have to take your own bath.”
Movies:
Birth of a Nation, revival playing at George M. Cohan Theatre with new synchronized score and battle sound effects. Film remains “one of the masterpieces of the cinema, despite its distortion of historical events and excessive romanticism,” although most of the new sound effects “remind one of the cracking of George Lewis' Indian nuts in Once in a Lifetime.”
Tom Sawyer, starring Jackie Coogan - “thoroughly delightful entertainment”; adult viewers “will find themselves being transported back to their childhood by many of the scenes” while children will share the characters “manifold joys and momentary sorrows.” A faithful adaptation of the novel. [Viewable on Youtube:]
No Journal was published Sunday, Dec. 14, 1930. This week's sermon is on the subject of pattern recognition. A couple of items from the past week:
Dec 20: The Old Timer: “When you feel gloomy and discouraged ... just remember that you felt the same way back in 1921, 1914, 1907 and other years of depression. You may rest assured that what you possess today will be worth much more a year from now. A man without patience, and with no faith in the country's ability to recuperate from depression, never accumulated a huge fortune.”
Dec 17: Precedent indicates we're in “culminating phase of the prolonged depression”; conditions are similar to those in 1907 and 1921 that “marked the climax of the dislocation in business and securities.”
Of course, there are any number of previous similar items - this is one of the themes that strikes me most reading the 1930 Journal. The lesson I take from this is the danger of depending on historical patterns. This I think is for two reasons. First, there's the data mining problem - the fact that detecting patterns is a survival skill, so humans are very good at finding them, whether they are real or not. However, this can probably be compensated for with some care. The second problem is more insidious. Even if the pattern you find is real and not a statistical mirage, if you don't have a good understanding of the causes that drive it, then those causes can go away without your awareness - and goodbye pattern. The amusing metaphor Taleb uses for this is:
A turkey is fed for a 1000 days—every days confirms to its statistical department that the human race cares about its welfare "with increased statistical significance". On the 1001st day, the turkey has a surprise.
Another metaphor might be the rogue wave. The height of the vast majority of deep ocean waves follows a reasonable mathematical distribution based on prevailing weather, commonly reaching heights of 20 feet or more in storms and up to 50 feet in extreme conditions. However, eyewitnesses long told of the occasional much higher wave approaching 100 feet - a wave that could sink a 500 foot cargo ship, and one that might be expected only every thousand years using the usual statistical distribution. For many years these legends were dismissed, possibly due to those other sailor legends about the existence of krakens, mermaids, and Eskimos. However, in the past 10 - 15 years, these waves have been found to happen with a frequency considerably greater than one per thousand years - in fact, one study found ten in a three week period.
I think I like the rogue wave metaphor because it has something of the flavor of longer cycles superimposed on shorter ones - while I don't buy into soup-to-nuts long-cycle theories like the Kondratiev wave, I do think there may be something to a longer-term debt cycle that plays out over 50-70 years (for example, 1870, 1930, 2000). The generations that were adults or grew up during the bust want no part of debt for the rest of their lives; the next generation born 20 or so years later still has some of that culture; the next generation, knowing of the bust only from their grandparents' stories, are probably ready to abandon all caution again. It may not be entirely random that the Jubilee year commanded in the Old Testament, during which all debts were forgiven, happened once every 50 years.
End of sermon. My two favorite items of the week, from Dec. 16: Reminiscence of the 1907 panic: A reporter asked one of the most prominent brokers what started the panic and received the terse reply: “Somebody asked for a dollar.”
And, of course, from Dec. 19: Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty got a great fall; All Morgan's money and Henry Ford's men Can't put Humpty Dumpty together again. What made Humpty Dumpty fall? Nobody knows for certain at all. Some say the cause was the stock market crash, And the call which the brokers sent out for more cash. ... Some think Humpty was filled up with gas, And thus it was that it came to pass, Inflated with credit, high prices and rent, And call loan interest at 20 percent. ... Some say that Humpty had lived far too high On Good Times cake and Prosperity pie. Had too much to spend and to much to eat, Causing surplus production of cotton and wheat. ... Of things to see and hear and drive - Radios and motorcars, sakes alive! 'Twas little wonder he ... fell from the wall; But nobody knows for certain at all. Can Humpty be put together again? So far all efforts have been in vain; ... they'll succeed without a doubt; But when they'll get him back on the wall, Nobody knows for certain at all.
Finally, the Youtube oddity of the week - Campus Vamp, a Mack Sennett silent comedy short, starring a young Carole Lombard - including a mildly risque beach softball scene in glorious early Technicolor.
[Vive la France dept.] Prohibition movement runs into some difficulty in France. The Anti-Alcoholic League of France recently tried to get schoolchildren to sign a pledge of total abstinence. This was protested by 1.5M [!] wine grape growers. The French Minister of Education weighed in: “Any attempt to inculcate hostility to the glorious wines of France is more than deplorable ... I am about to take steps, either to ban the school manuals into which such heretical doctrine has been allowed to creep, or to have the publishers amend them so as to restore to wine drinking its true character in the eyes of the schoolchildren.”
[Always check the fine print dept.] International Labor Office at Geneva finds Soviet labor virtually forced; while workers can quit jobs with 7 days notice, they then become deserters.
House is insisting on rejecting Senator Couzens' amendment to the $116M emergency construction bill; this would require hiring localized labor at the highest prevailing wage. [Senator Couzens is most frequently quoted these days for his 1932 grilling of Mr. Sachs, as in Goldman, regarding their sale of Goldman Sachs Trading Corp. to the public at 104 a share (52 post-split), after which it unfortunately declined to a buck and change.]
Canadian pool to support stocks confirmed; formed by leading financial interests in cooperation with banks to prevent panicky conditions; believe Canadian stocks below intrinsic value; “strong interests have undertaken to buy stocks in almost unlimited amount on any marked recession.”
Editorial: Commodity exchanges should be self-regulated; the exchanges are more capable of managing themselves than any political agency, and in absence of abuses they should be left to it. Farm Board chair. Legge says the exchanges are run to benefit traders instead of producers and consumers, but in fact their success depends on giving producers and consumers the best and cheapest service; this service won't be improved by govt. meddling. “Let private business regulate itself and let the government cease from unnecessary meddling with it.”
Editorial: Sen. Borah, after opposing such “foreign entanglements” as the world Court, is now in favor of govt. financing of trade with Russia. Why is the Treasury being asked to finance Russian trade in particular? Because the risk is considered too great for private financing, and because it would be a path to recognition of the Soviet govt. regardless of the merits. There's no good case for this financing, nor have other countries had good experience with it.
Negotiations opened for tariff truce between Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland.
British Labor govt. approves spending about $660M on construction projects in year to Sept. 30, to employ 500,000 men.
L. Gallopin, Mexican opponent of Lamont - de Oca debt plan, arrives in NY claiming he was kidnapped and spirited out of Mexico. Italian Premier Mussolini blames Italy's financial condition on US stock market decline.
Group of congressmen headed by W. Hull (R, Ill.) protests ruling of F.D.A. requiring labeling of products using corn syrup.
New Orleans transport operators and public authorities investing millions to prepare for increasing trade volume after completion of Federal waterway projects.
First Nat'l Bank of Las Vegas to be opened Jan. 1 by San Francisco and Honolulu interests with capital of $100,000. Las Vegas will be junction point of new Union Pacific branch line to Hoover Dam.
F.T.C. reports increasing proportion of electric power exported across state lines; ratio in 1929 was 15.18% of power produced.
Henry Alonso House dead at 90 [prolific inventor, built first US steam-powered automobile in 1866, also invented machines for sewing buttonholes, knitting, paper plates, etc.]
Cotton used to make new type of airplane propeller, constructed of layers of canvas “impregnated with chemicals and built up by a secret process into a material as hard as steel which will not corrode and is moisture proof.” This propeller was used by the airplane Southern Cross on recent flight West across the Atlantic.
Market commentary:
Market wrap: Stocks irregular in morning, with market showing signs of “consolidating its position”; strong improvement started at noon, led by Eastern rails on consolidation prospects; rally broadened to industrial leaders and various specialties. Bond market again very strong; US govts. firm; foreign govts. rally on light trading; corp. up sharply on active trading. Commodities narrowly mixed.
Conservative observers encouraged by market action as indicating extension of rally; still don't advise “indiscriminate buying” but favor gradual buying of standard stocks on any good reaction, reserving some money for additional purchases if another sharp reaction takes place.
Action of Fed. Reserve to prevent possible new bank runs seen in $181M increase in currency in circulation over past week. Fed also acted to keep money market easy by buying $75B of govt. securities and $8M of bankers' acceptances.
Broad Street Gossip: The value of US crops has fallen about 28% from last year, but the fall in the Dow industrial average was about 60% from the peak. Difference is that the farmers got substantial aid from the govt. while the stock market didn't.
Broad Street Gossip: “The recent rally did more to dissipate the almost impenetrable gloom that had been hanging over Wall Street and the country than any developments in a long time. ... Last Wednesday morning ... pessimistic rumors were so numerous one couldn't keep a record of them ... When the rally ended at the close of business, traders had forgotten 99% of the bear's rumors, and went home happy.”
[Perils of knowing history dept.]The Old Timer: “When you feel gloomy and discouraged ... just remember that you felt the same way back in 1921, 1914, 1907 and other years of depression. You may rest assured that what you possess today will be worth much more a year from now. A man without patience, and with no faith in the country's ability to recuperate from depression, never accumulated a huge fortune.”
Insurance companies are reported investing a larger proportion of funds into dividend paying common stocks.
NY City banks security loans to non-brokers increase of $23M in week ended Dec. 17 seen as indicating “strong buying” by experienced investors; increase would have been $40M-$50M if figures from Bank of U.S. were included.
Municipal bond market improved toward end of week after bad start when issues by Philadelphia and Houston failed to sell.
Economic news and individual company reports:
Fed. Reserve Dec. bulletin points to strong position of member banks, with very low level of indebtedness to the reserve banks; credit expected to remain easy through the holidays [I assume this was written before the Bank of US failure.] Many plans under consideration for reorganizing Bank of U.S. and paying off depositors, but none has advanced far enough for official announcement by NY State banking superintendent. Only about 5% of depositors have applied for the offered 50% loans against their deposits.
First 17 states report new Nov. passenger car registrations down 47% from Oct. and 49.5% from Nov. 1929.
Bradstreet's and Dun's weekly reviews report give mixed picture; holiday buying and cold weather have stimulated buying volume close to 1929 levels, but value of trade is well below 1929. Cheaper lines of goods and staples are selling better, while luxuries and novelties are slow.
Prospects seen brighter for Eastern rail consolidation (by agreement among Eastern railroads). Administration believes final agreement would be very constructive for general business conditions. Harvard Prof. W. Ripley believes consolidation could allow more economic operation while preserving competition.
1930 paper production estimated at 9.962M tons, down about 9% from 1929.
Structural steel use in first 10 months was only down 1% over 1929, though orders were down 19.5%. Usage for 1931 is expected to increase based on inquries and upcoming projects.
Sears midwinter catalog passes on wholesale price drops; almost every item is substantially reduced. Average declines from 1929 midwinter catalog are 5.9% on furniture, 9.2% on electrical appliances, 16% on wool goods, 21.4% on copper products.
Canadian govt. reportedly comes to aid of banks, guaranteeing them against losses on 1930 advances to the Wheat Pools.
Russian Oil Products builds tanker terminal in Dublin.
Company reports since Oct. 1: 255 companies reported higher earnings vs. 1929 and 442 lower; 903 dividends unchanged, 90 increased, 164 cut.
Companies reporting decent earnings: Arundel Corp. (sand and gravel), Consolidated Laundries, Waldorf System (restaurants).
Upcoming movies:
The Bachelor Father with Marion Davies; Joan Crawford in Dance, Fools, Dance; Ramon Novarro in Song of India; Greta Garbo vehicle Grand Hotel; Winston Churchill's The Crisis; Tolstoy's Resurrection, with John Boles and Lupe Velez.
"I would get these newspapers from 1929. I couldn't get enough of it. I read everything - not just the business and stock-market stories. History is interesting, and there is something about history in a newspaper, just seeing a place, the stories, even the ads, everything. It takes you into a different world, told by someone who was an eyewitness, and you are really living in that time." - The Snowball, Schroeder, p. 148
An interesting oddity from Elstree Calling, a British Revue film from 1930. This is a number by the Charlot Girls, hand-colored(!) using the Pathecolor process - if you've ever wondered what a high-end British music hall act looked like ... Click here for larger version.
