The remnants of the first named storm of the hurricane season churned through the south-eastern US early today, bringing much-needed rain and offering officials a chance to practice their storm preparations.

Wall Street resumed its retreat with a third straight session of losses today as declines in oil and gold prices did little to calm anxiety over higher interest rates and a slowing economy. The Dow Jones industrial average is now negative year-to-date for the first time in 2006.

Residents in low-lying areas along more than 100 miles of Florida’s Gulf Coast have been told to get out as the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season unexpectedly gained strength.