The use of "SE"

Question

Hi,

"El mercado de dolares venia muy mal y perdio todo. Se la vio venir."

I'm not sure exactly what's the role of the "SE" in this sentence. Lets say i was talking with a friend of mine about a mutual friend who lost all his money. The "SE" in the sentence is supposedly about him, i'm just not sure why using "SE" and not "El" for example. it suppose to mean "he saw it coming".

Thanks

***** Update (i think this is the right answer) http://mimosa.pntic.mec.es/ajuan3/lengua/usosdese.htm

Se impersonal.

Función: Indicador de impersonalidad.
    En las oraciones impersonales , SE es un elemento que indica el carácter impersonal de la oración, sin ninguna otra función.
· En este restaurante se come muy bien. (intransitiva) 
· Aquí se vende vino. (transitiva) ( Vino=CD) No interesa señalar el sujeto agente; lo importante no es quién lo venda, sino dónde (aquí) y qué (vino). 
· En círculos gubernamentales se comenta que subirá la gasolina. (transitiva)( Que subirá la gasolina=Proposición sustantiva CD) .Probablemente, el sujeto agente es alguna persona concreta cercana al Gobierno, pero no interesa que se conozca su nombre)

I think "Se la vio venir." could be interpreted as "It was seen coming by him" - a bit clumsy in English. - ian-hill, Aug 4, 2013

By her (la). - gringojrf, Aug 4, 2013

Maybe - but I am not sure what the "la" refers to. :) - ian-hill, Aug 4, 2013

Answer 1

I'm not sure if its meant to be about the mercado de valores, the stock market, but i would say that the second part of your example means he saw it coming (to him), although I would probable expect 'lo' instead of 'la'. It would also work without the se but as Gringo pointed out it is replacing the ind obj le (to him) so that makes it more personal to him. For the saw bit it could also be with veía instead of vio.

Answer 2

Vio is the preterit of Ver, se la vio means - he /she saw it , él had already been

mentioned there was no need to repeat it. But we need a native Spanish speaker,

I am only guessing .

Answer 3

Substitute use for le (the indirect object for him/her)