1.   The French franc stood up well to any post-election speculation and gained a little ground against the D-mark.

2.   On the foreign exchanges the pound gained ground against the dollar with news that U S interest rates may be reduced.

3.   And the dollar gained ground against other major currencies.

4.   Anti-personnel mines can hold lightly defended ground against infantry or guerrilla forces.

5.   As the German currency loses ground against the dollar, it will also slip against its European counterparts.

6.   Auto and auto-related exporters such as Denso Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. slipped as investors found they were less attractive as the dollar lost ground against the yen.

7.   Birtwistle has held his ground against younger trends and become the unlikely doyen of English opera.

8.   A weaker franc contributed to doubts about any cut by the Bank of France, as the deutsche mark gained ground against most other currencies.

9.   Again, Sterling Hitchcock held his ground against a mound opponent with Cy Young credentials.

10.   But it managed to hold its ground against the German mark and other leading currencies.