Facebook has ended its third trading day and the world is falling apart -- again. The stock closed Tuesday at $31, down 19% from the $38 IPO price, lead underwriter Morgan Stanley is under fire, the SEC is ready to investigate, and analysts are blaming everyone. Oh, and the fundamentals? Those haven't changed a bit.
After all the finger pointing over Facebook's rapid share price decline, there is one factor that should have served as warning. Morgan Stanley, the lead underwriter, cut earnings estimates in the lead-up to the IPO -- while expanding its size and raising its price.
Goldman Sachs' big discount in underwriting fees for the GM IPO has squeezed the other underwriters in the deal. The banks now stand to make only a fraction of what they would normally rake in for the stock offering.
Tesla's electric cars have amazing acceleration, but the company's stock has been moving even faster since its IPO last week. It shot up 79% in its first two days, but has since fallen below the IPO price. Venture capitalists and cleantech startups are watching carefully.
