By today, however, the tale that investors called "the Mexico story" had suddenly turned darker.

Now, with the Dell sales running at $27 billion a year, investors are not calling it that anymore.

"Institutional investors should have been looking at that, and calling them on it."

Another suggestion is that investors call a fund to ask if it holds derivatives.

Foreign investors typically call loudly for clear, unambiguous rules by which to play the game.

Some investors are calling for the merger to be unwound.

But after three years, when virtually all pension funds have lost money, many investors now call them inexplicable.

"Now there's enough activity so that investors are calling me."

Big institutional investors call other institutions for tips on how to value their portfolios each day.

As a result, some investors are now calling for the board to make sweeping management changes.