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CFDs are complex instruments. 72% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs, with this investment provider. You can lose your money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money.
CFDs are complex instruments. 72% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs, with this investment provider. You can lose your money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money.

Alibaba shares plunge on Monday after raising share buyback size

The e-commerce group’s Hong Kong shares took a beating a day after Chinese authorities ordered its fintech arm Ant Group to refocus on its payments business.

  • Alibaba’s Hong Kong share price fell over 7% on Monday (28 December 2020) morning
  • This comes despite the group raising the share buyback amount to US$10 billion from US$6 billion previously
  • On Sunday (27 December 2020), Chinese authorities also announced the results of a recent antitrust probe into Ant Group, Alibaba’s fintech arm
  • Regulators have ordered Ant Group to return to its initial payments services business model

Why did Alibaba open lower on Monday?

Alibaba Group’s share price sunk as much as 7.1% on Monday (28 December 2020) morning, after its board of directors approved the expansion of its share repurchase programme from US$6 billion to US$10 billion.

The share buyback scheme, which commenced earlier this quarter, will be effective for a two-year period through the end of 2022, the group said.

Following that, Alibaba’s Hong Kong shares opened at HK$219.20, before falling to a six-month low of HK$212 by 11:45 HKT.

Alibaba’s shares last traded at this level in June 2020. The stock is up 2.6% year-to-date, which is well below the year’s peak of 46.4% that was achieved on 28 October 2020, when shares had hit a price of HK$307.40.

What’s the regulatory update on Ant Group?

Last week, Chinese authorities began a probe into the e-commerce giant, as part of its antitrust clampdown on suspected monopolistic practices in the internet industry, signalling the start of a more involved approach to private sector dealings.

After sending officials to the group’s Hangzhou headquarters, the government on Sunday (27 December 2020) ordered Ant Group - the financial technology arm of Alibaba - to return to its roots as a payments services provider.

Such a move would put an abrupt halt to Ant Group’s rapidly growing and highly lucrative consumer loans and wealth management segments.

Ant Group’s Alipay first started out as a payment platform for Alibaba’s online shopping sites and apps. It then evolved beyond payments into loans provisions and investments, helping over 700 million users to secure small loans, invest savings and purchase investment products, including insurance.

Ant Group’s growing influence in the finance sector - a key pillar of the economy - had prompted the Chinese government to suspend what would have been the world’s largest initial public offering, citing ‘major issues’ with the listing.

Where next for Alibaba shares?

The outcome of the investigation did not surprise Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler. He wrote in a client note that he believes ‘the most likely outcome is the termination of these exclusive relationships, though it is difficult to quantify the potential revenue impact’.

Kessler believes investors have priced in these concerns for now. As such, he reiterated a ‘strong buy’ call on the group’s US stocks, alongside a price target of US$330, which represents a nearly 50% upside from current price levels.

Meanwhile, UBS analyst Jerry Liu thinks the probe’s results will likely ‘cause investors to price in a more negative outcome’. He has a ‘buy’ rating on Alibaba and share price target of US$340.

How to trade Alibaba with IG?

Are you feeling bullish or bearish on Alibaba’s Hong Kong/ US stocks?

Either way you can buy (long) or sell (short) the asset using derivatives like CFDs offered on IG's industry-leading trading platform in a few easy steps:

  1. Create a live or demo IG Trading Account, or log in to your existing account
  2. Enter <Alibaba Group Holding> in the search bar and select the instrument
  3. Choose your position size
  4. Click on ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ in the deal ticket
  5. Confirm the trade

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.

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