Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a very serious warning sign, FB IPO didn't take off as some people expected. This is going to be a very important day to the valley. http://www.businessinsider.com/zynga-shares-crushed-and-halt...
Is it a bad sign? Doesn't it mean that shares were priced appropriately and FB didn't leave much on the table?
Markets care a lot about sentiment. A nice 10-15% pop on the first day leaves everyone feeling pretty good - and a nice halo around the company.
If the price levels off.. Well people will be inclined to be more critical. They'll be wanting FB to start moving the stock north sooner.
I was a bit curious about the pricing. As you say, they want the maximum investment value, but there is some sense in buying the management team some time. A billion less may have saved them a lot of headaches dealing with market criticism, given them time to get some wins...
Anyway. It's a brave new world when you suddenly have to start answering to shareholders.