Two biotech companies launched IPOs Thursday, just ahead of the blockbuster Alibaba Group (BABA) offering expected to price late Thursday. ProQR Therapeutics (PRQR), a biotech that is developing therapies for cystic fibrosis, raised $98 million by offering 7.5 million shares, up from 6.3 million originally planned. The stock priced at 13, the high end of its range. ProQR stock was trading at 17.23, up 33%, in midday trading on the stock market
Alibaba Group (BABA) is expected to have the largest U.S. initial public offering in history this week, but how will the new stock’s performance match up against the blistering starts for several recent IPOs? Investors have gone loco for El Pollo Loco (LOCO), which rose 0.2% to 36.84 on the stock market today, up 146% from its July IPO price of 15. The chicken-focused Mexican chain topped revenue estimates on Sept. 4, with Q2 sales rising 6% to
China had 617 million Internet users at the end of 2013, more than double the U.S. number. Still, less than half of China’s population is accessing the Internet, leaving significant room for growth. In five years, China is expected to have 825 million Internet users, reaching 62% of the population, with corresponding growth in online shoppers. That’s good news for companies like Alibaba Group (BABA), which is slated to launch a blockbuster initial