The more devoted market followers travel to auctions and shows around the country.

Can a Soviet banker, who for years worked under orders, become a market follower in days or months?

The more pessimistic market followers note that a sure sign of a market top - and an imminent retreat -is when small investors, caught up by a buying frenzy, leap in, as they are now apparently doing.

Tesco was a resolute market follower of the two leading brands, Marks & Spencer as the then world's most profitable retailer, and Sainsbury's as the world's most profitable food retailer.

For the past two years, there has been an enormous amount of rhetoric from market followers, which never translated into active bidding," said Michael Findlay, senior director of Impressionist and modern art at Christie's in New York.

Outlook for Tokyo The Washington market followers will be chiefly focusing on the Tokyo and Hong Kong markets, which will open Sunday evening Eastern time and will probably set the tone for Monday on Wall Street.