Facebook has launched on the Nasdaq stock exchange in what is the biggest ever company flotation.
The social networking company's sky-high valuation combined with trading glitches left the stock languishing near its offering price at the market close.
The shares, priced at $38 (€29.73) yesterday in the largest-ever initial public offering (IPO) for a technology firm, made a gain of 0.61% to end at $38.23 (€29.91), amid record volume of more than 567m shares.
The social network was valued at more than a $100bn (€78.2bn), making founder Mark Zuckerburg, 28, a multi-billionaire.
He said going public was an important milestone but that Facebook's mission is to make the world more open and connected.
Facebook employees, including many in Dublin, are also in line for a cash windfall.
The shares jumped 10% at opening before dropping, still making this one of the largest share offerings in history and raising billions of dollars for Facebook to invest in its services
U2's Bono was one of the early investors and there is speculation that through his 'Elevation Partners' venture, he may earn more from his Facebook shares than he made all through his life from music.
Those who follow the sector believe Facebook should not have any trouble converting its almost one billion users into profits through advertising or another way.
