Figma sheds US$11 billion in market value days after blockbuster IPO
San Francisco, California-based Figma shares had scored a massive 250 per cent gain during their market debut on Thursday when they were priced at US$33 but finished at US$115.50, giving the company a market capitalisation of about US$56.3 billion.
Figma's market value closed at US$59.5 billion on Friday after its shares rose 5.6 per cent to US$122. The shares traded as low as US$92.75 on Monday, down 23 per cent, reducing its market value to about US$45.2 billion.
'The excitement for Figma's business is not over, but the euphoria that's gone into its heady stock pricing seems to be deflating as those that wanted an early piece of the action bought in during market hours while some IPO recipients are probably taking sweet profits,' said Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital in Los Angeles.
Founded in 2012 and led by CEO Dylan Field, Figma provides cloud-based collaborative design tools, with a roster of marquee clients including Alphabet, Microsoft, Netflix and Uber.
Field owns about 54.2 million Figma shares worth about US$5 billion after selling 2.35 million shares in the IPO. As is common in many Silicon Valley startups, Field retains 74.1 per cent voting power over Figma given his holdings of Class B shares.
Adobe had abandoned a US$20 billion deal to acquire Figma in 2023 following antitrust pushback from regulators in Europe and the UK.
'With Figma at a US$46 billion market capitalisation, Adobe's failed buyout offer must now seem like a distant memory,' Schulman added. REUTERS
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Trump orders extra 25% tariff on Indian goods, straining trade ties further
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 6) ordered an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India for its purchases of Russian oil, in a move that threatens to severely disrupt bilateral trade and marks the sharpest downturn in ties since his return to office. The tariff, set to take effect in three weeks, comes on top of a separate 25 per cent duty entering into force on Thursday, according to the text of the executive order released by the White House. The order also threatens potential penalties on other countries deemed to be "directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil". Exemptions remain for items targeted by separate sector-specific duties such as steel and aluminium, and categories that could be hit, like pharmaceuticals. The White House said the move was "necessary and appropriate". INDIA HITS BACK India's foreign ministry said the decision was "extremely unfortunate" and that New Delhi will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests. "Our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India," it said in a statement. "It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest." Trump has been ramping up pressure on India after signalling fresh sanctions on Moscow if it did not make progress by Friday towards a peace deal with Kyiv, as Russia's invasion of its neighbour drags on. India's national security adviser was in Moscow on Wednesday, media in New Delhi reported, coinciding with a visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff. India's foreign ministry earlier said US pressure to stop it from buying Russian oil was "unjustified and unreasonable" and that it would protect its interests. ECONOMIC FALLOUT FOR INDIA Analysts say the new tariffs, which could push Indian export duties to as high as 50 per cent, will impact sectors such as textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery. India exported nearly US$87 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024. 'This is a severe setback. Nearly 55 per cent of our shipments to the US will be affected,' said S.C. Ralhan, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. Indian exporters now face a 30 to 35 per cent disadvantage compared with competitors in Vietnam, Bangladesh and Japan, economists warn. The move follows five rounds of stalled trade talks, derailed by disagreements over US access to Indian agriculture and dairy markets, and New Delhi's refusal to cut Russian oil imports, which hit a record US$52 billion last year. The timing of the tariffs, effective 21 days after Aug 7, suggests Washington may still be open to negotiation, according to Indian officials. 'We still have a window,' a senior official said, adding that phased cuts in Russian oil imports could be part of a compromise. NO RETALIATION PLANNED India has not announced any retaliatory tariffs or plans for a high-level visit to Washington. Instead, the government is considering domestic relief for exporters, including loan guarantees and interest subsidies. A sharp drop in shipments to the US could drag India's GDP growth below 6 per cent this year, down from the central bank's 6.5 per cent forecast, said Sakshi Gupta of HDFC Bank. Markets responded with caution, the Indian rupee weakened in offshore forwards trade, and equity futures fell modestly. 'Unless there's swift clarity or a breakthrough, a near-term knee-jerk market reaction is inevitable,' said Mayuresh Joshi, head of equity research at Willian O' Neil. CHINA EXEMPT, FOR NOW Trump's move could reshape India's economic ambitions. Many American companies have seen India as an alternative to Chinese manufacturing, which Trump had hoped to diminish through the use of tariffs. Even though China also buys oil from Russia, Beijing was not subject to the additional tariffs in the order signed by the Republican president. The US and China are currently in negotiations on trade, with Washington imposing a 30 per cent tariff on Chinese goods and facing a 10 per cent retaliatory tax from Beijing on American products. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for his first visit to China in over seven years, raising speculation about a potential shift in New Delhi's strategic alignments.

Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
US Open announces record $100m in prize money
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The US Open prize pool is up from US$75 million in 2024, the previous highest-ever purse. NEW YORK - The US Open announced US$90 million ((S$115 million) in prize money will be on offer at this year's final major, marking the largest purse in tennis history, up 20 per cent from 2024. Top players in the ATP and WTA called for more equitable distribution of revenue at the four Grand Slams this year, as those at the top of the game are able to benefit from increased prize money while players at the lower levels often struggle. The US Open prize pool is up from US$75 million in 2024, the previous highest-ever purse. Men's and women's singles winners will earn US$5 million each, up from US$3.6 million in 2024. The tournament will also see double-digit percentage increases across all rounds in all events, after 'years of a strategic focus on redistribution to the early rounds and qualifying tournament,' organisers said. Singles action at the US Open has been expanded to 15 days, amid booming attendance, and will take place from Aug 24 to Sept 7. A new format in the mixed doubles is being introduced this year, with the event featuring many big-name singles players as it will be taking place over two days in the week before the main competition kicks off at Flushing Meadows. US Open attendance topped one million fans for the first time in 2024. REUTERS
Business Times
5 hours ago
- Business Times
Trump imposes additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, relations hit new low
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 6) issued an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil, sharply escalating tensions between the two countries after trade talks collapsed. The new measure raises tariffs on some Indian goods to as high as 50 per cent – among the steepest faced by any US trading partner. The move is expected to hit key Indian export sectors including textiles, footwear, and gems and jewellery and marks the most serious downturn in US-India relations since Trump returned to office in January. It also comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his first visit to China in over seven years, suggesting a potential realignment in alliances as ties with Washington fray. 'India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests,' India's external affairs ministry said in a statement, saying it was 'extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest.' It said India's imports were based on market factors and aimed at energy security for its population of 1.4 billion. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Trade analysts warned the tariffs could severely disrupt Indian exports. The additional 25 per cent tariff comes into effect 21 days after Aug 7, the order said. 'With such obnoxious tariff rates, trade between the two nations would be practically dead,' said Madhavi Arora, economist at Emkay Global. Indian officials have privately acknowledged growing pressure to return to the negotiating table. A potential compromise could involve a phased reduction in Russian oil imports and diversification of energy sources. A senior Indian official said New Delhi was blindsided by the sudden imposition of the new levy and the steep rate, as both countries continue to discuss trade issues. Trump's decision follows five rounds of inconclusive trade negotiations, which stalled over US demands for greater access to Indian agriculture and dairy markets. India's refusal to curb Russian oil purchases – which surged to a record US$52 billion last year – ultimately triggered the tariff escalation. 'Exports to the US become unviable at this rate. Clearly, risks to growth and exports are rising, and the rupee may face renewed pressure,' said Garima Kapoor, economist at Elara Securities. 'Calls for fiscal support are likely to intensify.' Trump's executive order does not mention China, which also buys Russian oil. A White House official had no immediate comment on whether an additional order covering those purchases would be forthcoming. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week said he warned Chinese officials that continued purchases of sanctioned Russian oil would lead to big tariffs due to legislation in Congress, but was told that Beijing would protect its energy sovereignty. The US and China have been engaged in discussions about trade and tariffs, with an eye to extending a 90-day tariff truce that is due to expire on Aug 12, when their bilateral tariffs shoot back up to triple-digit figures. REUTERS