The Latest: Slack up 49% in value after 1st trading day

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on Slack's IPO (all times local):

4:35 p.m.

Slack's newly public shares aren't slacking off.

The work messaging service's shares debuted on the New York Stock Exchange at $38.50 and rose slightly to close at $38.62. That's 49% above the $26 reference price set by the exchange based on an analysis of recent trading activity in the private market.

Slack aims to replace traditional work communication like email with its own messaging platform. Users start "channels," or a group chat with a specific topic, rather than starting an email string about a subject.

Slack debuted on the market by way of a direct listing. In such cases, a company doesn't hire underwriters or sell new shares to raise money; it simply lists existing shares.

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12:30 p.m.

Shares of work messaging platform Slack have begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "WORK."

The San Francisco company's shares opened trading at $38.50 and rose 4.4% in midday trading.

Slack's initial public offering is using an unusual approach known as a direct listing. In such cases, a company doesn't hire underwriters or sell new shares to raise money; it simply lists existing shares.

Slack aims to replace traditional work communication like email with its own messaging platform. Users start "channels," or a group chat with a specific topic, rather than starting an email string about a subject.

Slack's listing is the latest in several highly anticipated tech IPOs. Rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, video conferencing company Zoom Video Communications and digital scrapbooking site Pinterest have all gone public in recent weeks.

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This item has been corrected to say that the Slack opening price was $38.50, not $38.25.

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9:45 a.m.

Shares of work messaging platform Slack are expected to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "WORK."

The San Francisco company is set to start trading Thursday in what's known as a direct listing.

Unlike a traditional initial public listing, under a direct listing a company doesn't hire underwriters or sell new shares to raise money, it just lists existing shares. There is no offering price.

In a regulatory filing, Slack said the volume weighted average price of shares that changed hands in the private market from February through May was $26.38.

Slack aims to replace traditional work communication like email with its own messaging platform.

Other technology companies that made a splash by going public include Uber and video conferencing company Zoom Video Communications.