1.   A weak dollar plus a noninflationary reading in the Producer Price Index could more or less permanently sideline foreign investors, Herrick said.

2.   An analyst from HLG Futures said trading in the futures market remained quiet as investors were sidelined ahead of any new fresh leads.

3.   Analysts said trading was quiet and investors were sidelined as they were cautious ahead of next week.

4.   Analysts said investors were sidelined by the turmoil, fearing that Hong Kong may see a new attack on its dollar.

5.   Brokers said that there was little buying interest as many investors were sidelined ahead of a meeting later Tuesday of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee.

6.   Brokers said most overseas investors were sidelined because of holidays in the United States and Britain.

7.   Bucking the trend was the Taiwan market, where shares closed slightly lower as rising caution ahead of legislative elections over the weekend kept many investors sidelined.

8.   Dealers said many investors were sidelined on continued worries over the economic slowdown, which could hurt the earnings of big corporations in Hong Kong.

9.   Foremost among the danger signs which sidelined investors was the weak performance of the Japanese yen against the dollar in morning trading, dealers said.

10.   In stock trading, shares moved lower as a dearth of positive, market-moving news sidelined most investors, traders said.