A first close can be a very happy milestone for those on the fundraising trail. Unfortunately, the first close is also becoming more elusive, according to new findings from the private equity data provider Preqin.

It is probably time to put to rest the question of whether, over nearly three decades, U.S. buyout shops have on average outperformed the public equity markets. They have.

Investment activity rose modestly to $6.9 billion in the quarter (vs. $6.8 billion in the fourth quarter) and deal volume climbed to 841, according to a study from CB Insights.

We know that venture fundraising is sluggish. But it turns out venture deal activity isn’t so brisk, either.

If you thought we might see a slowdown in the private equity secondary market in 2013, you probably don’t work for a pension fund, bank or insurance company. According to the private equity data provider Preqin, which just finished interviewing roughly 40 institutional investors worldwide, fully 98 percent of them said they expect to see as much if not more activity on the secondary market than last year.

While in the U.S., the picture for women in the field of private equity remains largely unchanged, a decidedly different picture is emerging in Asia, says Preqin, the PE data provider.

Overall, the vast majority of limited partners say they expect to maintain or increase their allocations to private equity in 2013, according to a new survey from Preqin. The exact number is 76%. However, expectations appear less sanguine than a year ago.

If there is good news to be had in private equity these days it is that limited partners seem to want to put new money to work. Many GPs will argue that consistency is their forte. But only some can truly make that claim, a new study finds.

Venture capital activity retreated around the globe in the third quarter with dollars invested falling 20% and the deal total slipping eight percent from the second quarter, according to Preqin.

Venture dollars have shifted to early from late stage investing over the past several years. It is a shift that proved fastest in quick changing industry segments, such as the consumer Internet, and slowest in segments like semiconductor that are less dynamic.