Sitting Tight on Stocks

Delayed Reaction Nishtar THE stock market has set its sights lower. The mood of cautious optimism discernible on the eve of the general budget has given way to a feeling of disappointment, Pre-budget optimism was attributable partly to the not-so- harsh hike in railway freight rates and passenger fares and partly to the optimistic tone of the Economic Survey certifying that the economy which had given a "generally satisfactory" performance in 1970-71 was better poised to tackle the formidable problems con- fronting it. Even though its expectations of a saving and investment oriented budget had been belied, the market presented a fairly steady front during the special budget session on Friday evening. It seemed to take comfort in the thought that the Finance Minister could have easily assumed a more radical posture in evolving his fiscal strategy.