3.16
During the first quarter, the total volume of funds
raised on the stock markets (excluding the exercise of
warrants or convertible shares) was $114 million, with $25 million raised by way of a new issue of shares to the public
and $89 million by way of a rights issue.
3.17
The loco London gold market was weak for much of the
first quarter, with activity overshadowed by the strength of
the US dollar and high US interest rates, and by persistent
rumours of heavy Russian and Iranian sales in Zurich and
London. After a fall from US$400 per fine oz. at the end of
December 1981 to US$367 in mid-January 1982 and a subsequent
recovery to US$389 by the end of the month, the price fell sharply in nervous trading to reach US$309, its lowest level
for 21/2 years, on 17th March. Thereafter it moved within a
narrow range of US$310 to US$330, before closing the month at
US$319, a fall of 20% on the end-1981 level.
3.18
Conditions in the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange
Society remained quiet, with the price showing a similar
pattern of movements. It fluctuated for the first two months of the year between HK$2,540 and HK$2,740 per tael, to finish.
in February at the bottom of the range. The decline then accelerated and the price fell to HK$2,147 in the middle of
March, before recovering to close at HK$2,236 at the end of the month, 18% lower than it was at the end of December 1981.
3.19
Trading activity in gold futures on the commodity
turnover of 4 124 lots each soyabean and sugar futures
totalled 172 220
220 lots of
and 88 241 lots and
lots of sugar
market remained quiet with a total of 100 troy ounces. Trading in
continued to be
be active. Turnover
soyabeans each of 30 000 kilograms each of 50 long tons. There was no trading in cotton futures.
21
77