31.   In five frantic minutes after halftime, the French blasted four shots on goal but Sylva, rated the best goalie on the African continent, held firm.

32.   Italian Unions postponed a scheduled railway strike Monday, but held firm on a series of other transport strikes set for later in the week.

33.   Rayo, without an away victory this season, held firm until it lost its wingback Jordi Ferron, dismissed for elbowing defender Francisco Jusue after an hour.

34.   The commission has held firm that it must protect the integrity of the auction process by requiring bidders to meet their payment deadlines.

35.   A closely held firm, GFI is controlled by the investment group Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe.

36.   The miss seemed to inspire Brazil who launched a series of attacks on the Italian defence but the blue line, led by Baresi, held firm.

37.   The pound sterling mostly weakened, but held firm against the yen.

38.   The dollar fell slightly against European currencies but held firm against the yen early on Friday as dealers awaited publication later in the day of US employment figures.