Early Facebook investors boost stock offering by 25 per cent; sale could now fetch $18B-plus

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Insiders and early Facebook investors will be unloading more of their shares in the initial public offering, the company said Wednesday, as they take advantage of investor demand. Facebook said in a regulatory filing that 84 million shares, worth up to $3.2 billion, will be added to the offering. The entire increase comes from insiders and early investors, so the company won't benefit from the additional sales. The biggest increases come from investment firms DST Global and Tiger Global. Goldman Sachs is doubling the number of shares it is selling. Facebook board members Peter Thiel and James Breyer are also selling more shares. Founder Mark Zuckerberg isn't increasing the number of shares he's selling. The news comes a day after Facebook…

Poll shows low opinion of Facebook; lack of trust may hold back ad sales

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Facebook's reach is wide but not deep. Few users surveyed in an Associated Press-CNBC poll say they click on the site's ads or buy the virtual goods that make money for it. More than 40 per cent of American adults log…

Buying small items with smartphones takes another step forward, not reality yet

MONTREAL - Using smartphones to pay for small purchases took another step forward Monday with Canada's financial institutions announcing guidelines for mobile payments that work with technology already in place. The guidelines were developed by the major banks and credit unions, although observers say that…

Online deals company Groupon reports smaller 1st-quarter net loss, higher revenue

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Online deals company Groupon is reporting a smaller net loss and sharply higher revenue for the first quarter, helped by increased demand from a growing customer base. Groupon Inc. said Monday that its net loss was $11.7 million, or 2 cents…

Social justice activist files $100-million suit against Bell over expiry dates

TORONTO - Bell Mobility and its parent company, BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE) have been served with notice of a $100-million class-action lawsuit alleging that expiry dates on its pre-paid wireless services are illegal. The suit alleges the practice is contrary to Ontario's Consumer Protection Act and…