Most likely, market leaders agreed, investors will stampede back to the time-tested institutions - the Big Board and the Nasdaq.

Just a few years ago, investors were practically stampeding the doors of venture capitalists, looking to get in on the next Yahoo or Amazon.com.

When the Federal Reserve cut interest rates six months ago, investors stampeded into stocks, certain that lower rates would mean higher share prices.

In the case of Mexico and in the Asian crisis, Washington's interests were primarily economic: stopping a "contagion effect" that could lead investors to stampede out of emerging markets around the world.

When foreign investors stampeded into Hungary with billions of dollars in the heady days after the fall of Communism, expectations were high that the new money would be the engine for an economic turnaround.

Boris could still be saved if the emerging-market turmoil ends quickly and investors stampede back to Russia.

After months of shrugging off bad economic news from Asia and a slowdown in corporate profits in the United States, investors stampeded out of stocks yesterday.

As clear as the telephone lights flashing furiously at the United States trade center switchboard here, American investors and exporters are stampeding into Brazil.

Then the United States and Japan bought yen to bolster the sagging currency, and investors stampeded back into the markets, only to have second thoughts about the Asian situation on Friday.

Brazil's Economy Surges, Attracting U.S. Investors American investors and exporters are stampeding into Brazil.