1.   Meanwhile, declines may be moderated by local pension funds buying up shares.

2.   Only a new arms race among various smaller nations, especially those that feel threatened by China, has served to moderate the decline.

3.   The decline was moderated by optimism that Indonesia was serious about tackling underlying economic concerns.

4.   The steep decline prompted the Bank of Canada to sell some of its U.S. dollar reserves and buy Canadian currency to moderate the decline, traders said.

5.   But it could moderate their declines and buy time for adjustments.