Google Inc. (GOOG) has announced the launch of a venture capital arm that will invest up to $100 million in startup companies. The stock has gained over 2% since this morning, although volumes are at lower-than-usual levels.

The arm, named Google Ventures, will be "focusing on early-stage investments across a diverse range of industries, including consumer internet, software, clean-tech, bio-tech, health care" and others.

Google Ventures has already invested in two companies, Silver Spring Networks, which provides technology to manage power grids, and Pixazza, a company engaged in online photo-based marketing.

Last week, the Mountain View-based search giant had announced the planned reduction of 200 employees in its sales and marketing operations amid a deepening recession.

Earnings estimates for this year have been cut by 65 cents over the past month and by 78 cents over the past 60 days.

GOOG is a Zacks #3 Rank ("Hold") stock.

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Tom Bulford says clean technology could become the “next big sector”. A growing awareness of environmental problems means huge investment in the industry over the coming years. And that means plenty of exciting start-up opportunities…

This from Penny Sleuth:

How many times have you read that before? Several, I imagine. But this is not just my headline writer suffering from a crisis of creative confidence. It is, with a slight variation, lifted from the agenda of next week’s AIM conference, to which the London Stock Exchange has graciously offered me a free ticket thus saving me from having to fork out £650 for this one day event. It will be interesting to hear what the presenters at this conference make of the state of AIM today and I will relay this to you at a later date.

It will also be interesting to hear the panel discussion on ‘Cleantech - the next big

...

Tom Bulford says clean technology could become the “next big sector”. A growing awareness of environmental problems means huge investment in the industry over the coming years. And that means plenty of exciting start-up opportunities…

This from Penny Sleuth:

How many times have you read that before? Several, I imagine. But this is not just my headline writer suffering from a crisis of creative confidence. It is, with a slight variation, lifted from the agenda of next week’s AIM conference, to which the London Stock Exchange has graciously offered me a free ticket thus saving me from having to fork out £650 for this one day event. It will be interesting to hear what the presenters at this conference make of the state of AIM today and I will relay this to you at a later date.

It will also be interesting to hear the panel discussion on ‘Cleantech - the next big

...

Tom Bulford says clean technology could become the “next big sector”. A growing awareness of environmental problems means huge investment in the industry over the coming years. And that means plenty of exciting start-up opportunities…

This from Penny Sleuth:

How many times have you read that before? Several, I imagine. But this is not just my headline writer suffering from a crisis of creative confidence. It is, with a slight variation, lifted from the agenda of next week’s AIM conference, to which the London Stock Exchange has graciously offered me a free ticket thus saving me from having to fork out £650 for this one day event. It will be interesting to hear what the presenters at this conference make of the state of AIM today and I will relay this to you at a later date.

It will also be interesting to hear the panel discussion on ‘Cleantech - the next big

...

Pequot CapitalPequot Capital Management Hedge Fund NoteThe following piece on Pequot Capital Management is being published as part of our daily effort to track hedge fund events and managers in the industry. To review other hedge fund related announcements and manager notes please see our Hedge Fund Tracker Tool._____________________________________________________In 2004, Pequot expanded its upper management team. “Employee-owned, Pequot Capital offers funds that focus on technology, health care services, and small-cap firms to institutional investors and wealthy individuals.”Pequot Management’s venture capital arm, “Pequot Ventures” split from the company and formed “FirstMark Capital”. The move was described as “the next logical step” for both Pequot Capital and Pequot Ventures. The move does not appear to effect Pequot Capital’s Hedge Funds since ...