Topic: IPOs

Word of mouth is the most powerful way to market any business. In fact, many studies have shown that consumers are more likely to make purchase decisions based on recommendations from people they know than from a brand’s marketing materials. And this is precisely what makes Facebook such a powerful marketing tool.

China is rolling out sweeping brokerage reforms to nurture future global investment banks that officials hope could eventually compete with the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, a regulatory document showed. 

The owners of Getty Images, the world’s largest distributor of stock photos, video and other digital content, have retained bankers to examine a possible sale or public offering of the business they took private four years ago for $2.4 billion. The FT reports.

Behavioral finance specialists will have a field day with the Facebook IPO as it speaks volumes to an issue that differentiates them from those that espouse the efficient market hypothesis.

Now that we have finished with the breathless minute-by-minute coverage of the Facebook IPO, perhaps it’s time to step back and think about its implications for politicians and policy-makers, says former HP CEO Carly Fiorina.

The European Union's antitrust chief on Monday offered Google a chance to settle an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour after the world's most popular search engine indicated its willingness to resolve the issue amicably.

China stocks are expected to weaken further after losing 2.1 percent last week.

"The healthcare industry is being significantly impacted by Facebook and social media. The use of these social media channels has led to a significant shift in the way we engage internally as well as with the external world. "

With millions of PlayStation gamers worldwide we are the seventh largest brand on Facebook, now it’s less about awareness and more about engagement for PlayStation. 

Small investor demand for Facebook has been higher than for any other IPO in history, according to experienced market participants and people close to the deal.

By the time Facebook shares start trading at 11 am ET, many Facebook employees will be exhausted and ready to go to sleep. All through the night Facebook headquarters was hopping and packed with people.

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, under fire over the tax consequences of renouncing his U.S. citizenship, said on Thursday he is obligated to and will pay "hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes to the United States government."

Clients have gone crazy for Facebook, say four financial advisors who relate that clients are saying the darndest things.

GM has learned what the savvy marketers already knew – people are not looking to buy on Facebook…yet. Facebook users believe their life (and the lives of their friends) is the most entertaining of 24/7 cinema; because they are the stars.

As the celebration of Facebook reaches its crescendo with today’s IPO it is useful to consider the transformational impact that Facebook is having on how companies interact with their customers.