Shares in Ascend Communications Inc took a dive on Thursday following estimate cuts by Hambrecht & Quist and Goldman Sachs and a downgrade from buy to hold by Salomon Brothers. Ascend fell $2.1875, or more than 5%, to $37.8125 after analysts acted on concerns over a back-end loaded quarter with late shipments hurting European sales. Cisco Systems Inc followed Ascend down, after announcing price cuts on remote access concentrators. Cisco shares fell $3.50 in early trading before recovering to finish the day down only $0.9375 at $71.5625. 3Com Corp, guilty by association, slipped $0.6875 to $49.0625.
á
