Coleman first invested in Facebook mostly through venture capital vehicles he set up at Tiger Global Management, purchasing Facebook shares in private transactions.

FORBES: Chase Coleman's Tiger Global Management Generated $1 Billion From Its Facebook Trade

Recent bad news included a sharp fall in the National Association of Purchasing Management's index of manufacturing activity in December: it hit its lowest level since April 1991.

ECONOMIST: Rates come down

In response, he pointed out that there are blackout restrictions and other reasons why top management has not been purchasing BAC shares in recent months and then added that pretty much his entire net worth was linked to the performance of the stock.

FORBES: Brian Moynihan's Rapidly Shrinking Net Worth

Factory activity as measured by the Institute for Supply Management, formerly the National Association of Purchasing Management, rose to an index level of 48.2 in December.

BBC: Factory

The Institute for Supply Management, in its twice-yearly forecast, said purchasing managers were optimistic about 2007, both in manufacturing and in other industries.

ECONOMIST: Overview

The manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace since June 2011 in February, according to the Institute of Supply Management's manufacturing purchasing managers' index, while U.S. consumer confidence was at its highest level since November, according to Thomson-Reuters and University of Michigan's consumer-sentiment index.

WSJ: Property Curbs Weigh on China Shares

This in turn came after an unexpected decline in the manufacturing purchasing index put out Monday by the Institute for Supply Management.

FORBES: Gold Underpinned By Downgrade Worries, Economy, European Debt Issues, Central-Bank Buying

The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing purchasing managers' index unexpectedly fell to a reading of 49 in May, which reflects a contracting economy.

WSJ: Blue Chips Reclaim Some Lost Ground

The CEA surveyed 1, 250 adults to assess consumer awareness and attitudes toward energy management and, in particular, how energy efficiency gains in consumer electronics products have changed purchasing habits.

FORBES: Consumers Still Clueless About Energy Efficiency