Here's what Wikipedia said.  Apparently he has been back and forth...

Hawking describes himself as an agnostic. He has repeatedly used the word "God" (in metaphorical meanings) to illustrate points made in his books and public speeches. His ex-wife, Jane said during their divorce proceedings that he was an atheist. Hawking has stated that he is "not religious in the normal sense" and he believes that "the universe is governed by the laws of science. The laws may have been decreed by God, but God does not intervene to break the laws." Hawking compared religion and science in 2010, saying: "There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, [and] science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works." On September 2, 2010, Hawking wrote in The Grand Design that the laws of physics can create the universe out of nothing and that his previous use of the word "God" was merely rhetorical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_hawking

it's not big news because it doesn't add anything new to the scenario.  physicists and aetheists have been claiming that the universe can exist by nature solely for years, so it isn't "new"s just because one more person says it because he has a greater visibility.

For what its worth, Stephen Hawking understands the universe better than almost everyone on Earth.

I just wanted to answer, because he made a comment like that! GOD HATES HIM! :P

Having watched a very interesting lecture online on this very subject recently, I was wondering when someone of his calibre was going to say it.

EDIT but please, lets not use this as a call of authority, I mean these arguments aren't new. I will buy his book though, I'm sure it'll be a great read.

.....I did!

Because gravity shapes space and time, it allows space-time to be locally stable but globally unstable. On the scale of the entire universe, the positive energy of the matter can be balanced by the negative gravitational energy, and so there is no restriction on the creation of whole universes.

Thats a quote from MSN.com which gives a more detailed idea of what hawking's theory is.  Can't wait for the book!

ah, maybe not, it's been so long, I can't remember.

No bullshit!!!! halla did it

thats odd...what i read said that he only said god isnt necessary to create the universe not that he explicitly didnt.