He took over the team after they suffered a poor year, finishing down in seventh place.

Unfortunately the team didn't show any improvement and finished down the stretch with an identical 2-7 record.

The S.& P. index of 500 stocks also fell yesterday, finishing down 4.69, at 1,047.33.

But as they were 4-2, East had to finish down one.

"Now it's just a matter of finishing down the stretch."

The results saw Labour keep a strong majority on the council after finishing just one seat down with 59 councillors.

The company's stock began falling almost immediately and was down more than 8 percent by midafternoon, before finishing down 7.85 percent, at $53.18.

Prices were helped as the index fell for the third straight day, finishing down 1.98, to 2229.61.

Declarer won with dummy's ace and ran the diamonds, but he lost the rest of the tricks to finish down two.

But the European stock markets were relatively calm, with London finishing down less than half a percent.