Facebook's debut on the stock market looms large, with reports suggesting the social network's initial public offering (IPO) is now just a matter of weeks away. 

The IPO is now in the hands of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - the body still needs to sign off Facebook's S-1 filing - and if all goes to plan, the social network could enjoy one the largest ever stock market debuts on either 17 or 18 May.

Insta-success?

Indeed, it's suggested Facebook's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram – as well as a move to pick up a bevy of patents from Microsoft acquired from AOL – will have likely stalled the S-1 filing, pushing back the IPO as a result.

Speculation suggested the IPO date might have slipped to June, though AllThingsD believes a mid-May offering is now most likely, with Facebook's original target having been pencilled in for April.

Facebook recently pegged its 2011 revenues at $1.1 billion, with 901 million users now registered on the platform – 500 million of which access the site via mobile or app.

[source: CNET]