America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 681 Madness

At 9:20 a.m. New York time, the trading floor of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange was already bustling with activity.

Hamilton led a group of Google employees to stand in front of the bell-ringing platform, attracting all eyes in the room.

Nasdaq Chairman Frank Zab personally took the lead, and this veteran of the financial world, who has worked in the industry for decades, could not hide the anticipation in his eyes.

The bell-ringing platform was already surrounded by media reporters from all over the world, with hundreds of cameras and video cameras pointed at the Google team, the shutters clicking non-stop.

CBS's close-up never wavered, and Eleanor Parker, the anchorwoman of "Silicon Valley Pulse," rang through television to every household: "Ten minutes until Google's IPO. The market is holding its breath. Can this record-breaking IPO continue the tech stock miracle?"

Inside the trading hall, the atmosphere reached its peak.

The traders stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on the giant electronic screen in front of them.

Even the security personnel maintaining order occasionally cast curious glances at her.

Everyone knew that what they were about to witness might be a pivotal event that would redefine the global technology industry landscape and capital market order.

At 9:25 a.m. sharp, the giant electronic screen inside the exchange switched its display on time and began showing the opening auction data for Google stock.

The offering price of $385 was prominently displayed in green font in the center of the screen, while the buy order numbers below seemed to be injected with boundless energy, climbing rapidly at a visible speed.

$390, $393, $397, $400 — each jump in the number was accompanied by a low gasp from the crowd.

The moment the buy order price broke through the $400 mark, an uncontrollable commotion erupted in the trading floor, with dozens of traders jumping up from their seats almost simultaneously.

$400 per share, 13 billion shares outstanding, market capitalization of $5200 billion.

This market capitalization has surpassed that of Microsoft, which has been declining for several days and whose market value has fallen below the $5200 billion mark, making it the world's most valuable technology giant.

"Quick! Open long positions in all accounts and buy Google stock at any cost!" The fastest-reacting institutional traders were already shouting into the phone, their voices filled with barely concealed urgency and excitement.

Similar instructions rang out continuously in the trading hall, one after another, forming a frenzied symphony of capital chasing value.

With this growth rate, it's impossible for Google to break its IPO price today, let alone trade sideways for 9:30. The moment the gavel fell, the electronic screen froze.

The opening price surged to $481 within five minutes.

"My God!" a financial journalist from Europe screamed on the spot, nearly dropping his recording pen.

The surrounding reporters were in an uproar, some frantically typing away to record this historic data, while others held up their cameras to snap pictures of the stock price on the electronic screen.

Jack, a senior reporter for The Wall Street Journal, frantically pulled out his calculator, his fingers flying across the keys as he muttered, "Total outstanding shares: 13 billion; opening price: $481; opening market capitalization: $6253 billion—"

This is simply an incredible number!

He has been a financial reporter for over 20 years and has witnessed the listing ceremonies of countless companies, but he has never seen such a crazy opening market value.

Eleanor Parker's voice echoed across the globe on television; she was completely out of control, even standing up from behind the anchor desk and loudly announcing to the camera, "Viewers, history is unfolding before our eyes! Google's stock price surged 24.9% at the open, instantly pushing its market capitalization above $620 billion—the biggest IPO miracle in Nasdaq's history!"

On the screen behind her, Google's stock price continued its upward climb: $486, $495, $500—each jump in the number elicited gasps from the audience.

When the stock price broke through the $500 mark, the cheers in the trading floor almost lifted the roof. People high-fived and hugged each other to celebrate this historic moment.

"From this day forward, Microsoft is officially a thing of the past!" Eleanor Parker's voice carried a resounding declaration. "A more globally dominant super-tech giant has been officially born, witnessed by all of us!"

"Google's rise will inevitably reshape the competitive landscape of the global technology industry and redefine the integration of capital and innovation!"

In cyberspace, news on various news platforms is almost entirely dominated by Google-related reports; opening any media portal will only reveal information about Google.

The Wall Street Journal's online edition ran a striking headline: "Today is not April Fool's Day, it's Google Day."

The New York Times' online edition used the same striking, bold headline, as if in response—"My God, is it April Fool's Day?"

In addition, globally renowned financial media outlets such as the Financial Times, The Washington Post, and Forbes have all featured Google's IPO on their homepages, providing real-time updates on stock price data, in-depth analysis of market impact, and a review of Google's development history.

Turn on the TV, and whether it's a news channel, a financial channel, an entertainment channel, or a lifestyle channel, almost one out of every two TV stations is broadcasting information related to Google.

Some channels broadcast the entire Nasdaq trading floor live, allowing viewers to experience the frenzied atmosphere firsthand.

Some channels invite financial experts and industry scholars to provide real-time commentary and in-depth analysis of the reasons for Google's soaring stock price and its impact on the global economy.

Even when a TV series or variety show is playing, the scrolling news bar at the bottom of the screen provides real-time updates on Google's latest stock price and related market dynamics, immersing viewers in the Google fever atmosphere.

Google has become the absolute focus of attention in the United States and even the world today.

Analysts at financial institutions were extremely busy, issuing urgent research reports and raising their target stock price for Google.

At 11:15 AM, the frenzied atmosphere in the Nasdaq trading floor reached a new climax.

Google's stock price successfully broke through the $616 mark, and its market value also rose accordingly, aiming for a new record.

Just then, an excited shout suddenly rang out from the crowd, "Look at that big screen over there! It's the Google Chrome interface!"

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn, and they all turned to look in the direction the other person was pointing.

It was a giant electronic screen located on the west side of the trading hall, which had been displaying real-time trading data and price fluctuations of various stocks.

At this moment, the content on the screen has undergone a dramatic change, replaced by an interface that is extremely familiar to internet users worldwide—the homepage of Google Chrome.

Unlike before, a brand new module has appeared prominently on the right side of this simple homepage interface.

A real-time updated ranking of global company market capitalization.

Tenth place: Citigroup, $200178750000;

Ninth place, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, $211484452245;

Eighth place, Intel Corporation, $268114597007;

Seventh place, ExxonMobil, $269641847211;

Sixth place, NTT DoCoMo, $300486474694;

Fifth place, Walmart, $300654100526;

Fourth place, Cisco Systems, $341021210340;

Third place, General Electric, $478395666667;

Second place, Microsoft Corporation, $517378303338;

First place, Google, $800001104352.

"Eight hundred billion?" When he saw Google's market capitalization at the top of the list, an investor suddenly clutched his head, his face filled with disbelief. He instinctively pulled out his calculator, his fingers trembling as he repeatedly tapped the numbers, as if trying to confirm that the numbers in front of him were not miscalculated.

"Why? Why was I so stupid!" Not far away, a man in a suit suddenly pounded his chest and stamped his feet, so agitated that he lost control and even slapped himself twice, leaving clear red marks on his face.

Those around were startled and took two steps back, muttering to themselves, "Is this person crazy?"

"Google's stock price surged, is it really necessary to get this worked up about you?" someone asked, puzzled.

"You don't know anything. I sold all my Google stock an hour after the market opened."

All around was silent.

Then one of the stock market investors took a spit and spat.

Rich people are not worth pitying.

It goes without saying that those who can get Google stock are high-net-worth individuals with a net worth of tens of millions of dollars.

There is no subscription process for US stocks. Underwriters invest in and promote the stocks they underwrite to institutions such as mutual funds and hedge funds, and more than 90% of the shares are preferentially allocated to these institutions.

The remaining small number of shares will be allocated by the underwriters to their partner securities firms, which will then distribute them to their high-net-worth or active clients.

For ordinary people who want to participate in IPOs, they can only participate in those ordinary stocks and junk stocks that are difficult to sell.

At a press conference, it's clear that Google's stock is bound to be snapped up; those funds and institutions only wish they had bought more and faster.

Just look at the stock price after the market opened today to see how sought-after it is.

Stocks that allow you to acquire shares.

People around felt a tickle in their throats and their gazes turned hostile.

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