The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
NEW YORK, United States — Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shares fell Monday, the first day of trading since a Barron's magazine article on Saturday suggested the Chinese Internet company may lose another 50 percent of its value.
The company, in a statement posted Monday on its website, said the article was inaccurate and misleading. Barron’s based its conclusion that the Chinese company is overvalued, in part, by comparing Alibaba’s share price as a multiple of earnings estimates with EBay Inc. Alibaba said the comparison is unfair because EBay’s online marketplace doesn’t do significant business in China.
Alibaba declined 4 percent to $62.03 at 12:37 p.m. in New York. Yahoo! Inc., which plans to spin off a multibillion-dollar stake in the Chinese e-commerce company, fell 3.6 percent to $30.30.
Alibaba makes most of its money selling goods to Chinese online shoppers and its shares have been falling since May due to concerns that economic growth is slowing in the country. The stock on Aug. 24 fell for the first time below the $68 price of the company’s September 2014 initial public offering, prompting Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang to urge employees to focus on Alibaba’s long-term prospects rather than the daily share price.
By Spence Soper; editors: Jillian Ward, Andrew Pollack and Paul Barbagllo.
Brands looking to invest in new developments and rapidly changing shopping districts across China’s major cities are scrutinising locations harder than before the economic slowdown.
In the key China market, sports stars are an increasingly popular choice for luxury brands aiming to broaden their appeal while limiting their exposure to scandal-prone entertainers.
Alibaba’s shopping holiday has lost some of its oomph, but remains a potent force for many brands. That, plus what else to watch for in the coming week.
At the latest edition of China’s top fashion week, brands adapted their designs for a more value-minded shopper as retail buyers prepared for a softer local market.