Twitter Inc said on Thursday it would introduce self-serve ads for small- and medium-sized businesses in three countries outside the United States, marking one of its first moves to expand revenue as a publicly listed company. Businesses in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada will be able to purchase "promoted" ads that can be shown to targeted Twitter users beginning this week, the company said.Twitter held a successful initial public offering last week that raised $1.8 billion. Its stock price has since soared, implying a market capitalization of more than $24 billion.Twitter, which made $317 million in revenue in 2012, generates the majority of its sales through selling ad packages directly to large companies and international brands such as Verizon Communications Inc or Samsung Electronics Co Ltd . But analysts believe it has the potential to greatly boost sales by letting smaller businesses buy automated ads without the help of Twitter salespeople.Google Inc, for instance, became an online advertising powerhouse by automating its ad-buying capabilities for small- and medium-sized business.
Shares of TWTR traded higher by 4.91% or $2.09/share to $44.69. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $39.40 and as high as $50.09. On average, 35344500 shares of TWTR exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 11098633.
Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) is a holding company. Shares of VZ traded higher by 0.56% or $0.28/share to $50.27. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $40.51 and as high as $54.31. On average, 14546700 shares of VZ exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 8874004.
Source
