IPO market heats up, more startups going public
Source: Businessweek
The IPO market is heating up. A growing economy and rising stock market are prompting more startups to go public, and investors appear hungry to invest.
This week, organic mac n' cheese maker Annie's and mobile ad firm Millennial Media posted the biggest first-day gains since networking site LinkedIn debuted last May. And Facebook's highly anticipated initial public stock offering is just weeks away.
After lying largely dormant for three years, the IPO market is churning again. And it's poised to get further lift. Congress is loosening restrictions in an attempt to make it easier for young companies to raise money. Still, high gas prices and stubborn unemployment rates continue to put a damper on growth, making it too early to tell whether an IPO recovery is here to stay.
The willingness of more startups to open their books and court wider investment suggests that they are optimistic about their business and the broader economy. And a strong IPO market could itself drive growth, as companies loaded with fresh cash injections hire workers to expand their operations.
Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-03/D9TQFC9G3.htm
More signs that the recovery is moving forward.
