Once-Hot IPOs Stumble as Market Volatility Picks Up

  • Software stocks hurt by valuation concerns in recent trading
  • Weakness may crimp demand for tech listings into 2022

Grab Holdings is trading down since it went public by merging with a SPAC.

Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg
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A banner year for tech-related initial public offerings is poised to go out on a sour note as returns dwindle in a surge of stock market volatility that’s prompted a flight to quality among investors.

More than 130 technology IPOs raised more than $60 billion in the U.S. this year, record hauls for both metrics, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. They comprised about one-third of the entire IPO market, excluding special purpose acquisition companies and direct listings. Recent trading returns, however, have been lackluster.