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strength requisite to create artificial exceptions 
that an investor can afford practically to dis 
regard them. 
However, should it ever happen that one of 
our readers finds that some stock held by him 
is moving irrespective of the general trend of 
all other prices controlled by the same financial 
centre, he ought to bestir himself forthwith to 
make enquiries into the cause of this special 
movement, with a view to disposing of this 
particular security if the reason for the unusual 
price-movement does not meet with his approval. 
Although the course of the country’s trade 
dominates the value of stocks, it is an external 
influence which need not necessarily affect the 
individual working of the enterprises them 
selves. The internal influences which affect 
the actual prosperity of a particular investment 
have to be carefully considered by investors, as 
they are a considerable factor in improving 
or impairing the dividend-earning powers of 
the stock. 
The dangers entailed by internal causes 
are to be dreaded because their effects are so 
peculiarly apt to be permanent. For instance, 
mismanagement may so completely cripple a 
company as to make its liquidation or its re 
construction inevitable. Or, again, the increase 
of trading competition may so reduce the profits