Sales and initial public offerings of companies owned by buyout firms are slowing at an even faster pace, Preqin says.

WSJ: Private-Equity Firms Forced to Evolve

Just two technology firms have held initial public offerings this year: "smart grid" energy company Silver Spring Networks Inc. last week and social network Professional Diversity Network LLC the week before.

WSJ: Business Tech Deals Highlight IPO Slate

That some of the analysts are working for the same firms that underwrote the initial public offerings is not surprising the potential for conflict of interest is a time-honored Wall Street tradition.

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Even as some venture-capital firms have become skittish after the disappointing initial public offerings of Facebook, Groupon Inc.

WSJ: New Money Ventures to Silicon Valley

In finance, Asian firms launched eight of the ten biggest initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2009 and more than twice as much capital was raised through IPOs in China and Hong Kong last year as in America.

ECONOMIST: The balance of economic power

Most e-brokers now offer online company-research, and some opportunity to buy shares in initial public offerings although, in this, they are not yet close to matching full-service firms.

ECONOMIST: The real virtual business

Financial sponsor-backed initial public offerings have jumped in the last few weeks, according to Dealogic, an indication that private equity firms are cashing out of their investments while they can still fetch top dollar.

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Companies continue to line up for initial public offerings, but few companies have been able to actually pull them off and produce revenue for Wall Street firms.

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Despite the uptick in venture-backed companies filing for initial public offerings in the fourth quarter of 2010, the overall tepid IPO market has made it difficult for venture firms to post positive returns and to find exits.

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