Facebook Stock Hits New Low

 Facebook stock has fallen below $20 per share -- nearly half the stock's initial selling price after its much-hyped public debut¹ in May.  The sell-off came Thursday after the expiration² of a 90-day ban that prevented early investors³ from selling shares of Facebook for quick profit. Despite the stock's poor performance so far, some say it's too early to give up on Facebook.

It was easily the most anticipated, most watched public offering of 2012, but just three months later, early investors couldn't get rid of their shares fast enough.

"They just threw it out there. The stock was down, six, seven percent, which says to me that the people that know the most about the company don't want to be anywhere near the shares," said Jeff Mackey, host of Yahoo Finance.

More than 270 million shares became available Thursday after selling restrictions⁴ were lifted - sending Facebook stock to a new low, and shaving about $50 billion off its market value.

But at nearly half it's $38 selling price in May, equity⁵ analyst⁶ Scott Kessler at Standard and Poor's sees a bargain.

"Ultimately we think these are going to provide a nice buying opportunity for investors because we don't necessarily see a lot of selling by insiders," Kessler said.

Others urge casual investors to be wary⁷.  Facebook reported losses in July due to higher costs and slowing revenue. And there are new concerns about the company's leadership and its ability to attract advertising⁸.

Yahoo's Mackey says he's taking his cue from the big investors.

"I don't want to buy what Goldman Sachs doesn't want to own cause I think they're pretty smart guys.  I want to be buying alongside them, so you know, this Facebook thing: it's time to take a pass," Mackey said.

But Kessler says it's too early to write off the Internet's number one social network.

"The reality is that we're looking for the company to grow revenues at 25 percent or more annually⁹ for 2012, 2013 and 2014," Kessler said.

For investors it's a matter of supply and demand.  About 14 percent of locked up Facebook shares were released Thursday.  More than a billion more shares are expected to hit the market in November.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

9 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。