Initial public offering activity surged in the first half of 2010, new Thomson Reuters data shows - and emerging markets led the way.
The hottest emerging-market economies posted near-double-digit growth in the first six months of the year; China exceeded the double-digit mark. Its 11.9 percent first-quarter growth was the world's fastest - so it comes as little surprise that China alone accounted for 36 percent of all first-half IPO activity.
In total, emerging markets had 52 percent of IPOs in the first six months of 2010.
Around the world, though, IPO issuance was strong. According to Thomson Reuters, $93.1 billion of IPOs came to market between January and June - the best first-half showing for new offerings since 2007.
The U.S. IPO market's performance has been spotty. Tesla Motors had a well-received offering last week, rising 41 percent in its first day on the market. But in June alone, according to Reuters, more than a dozen planned IPOs were canceled as investor sentiment turned broadly negative.
With economic indicators showing a slowdown in American growth, U.S. IPO activity could sputter. Emerging-market IPOs may continue to hold promise, though, if developing nations' growth continues to pace the rest of the world's.
