Alibaba Group Hldg Ltd Stock Price, News & Analysis

Haomo.AI, a Beijing-based autonomous driving startup, has successfully raised nearly 1 billion yuan (approximately USD 150 million) in its Series A funding round, achieving unicorn status. Major investors include Meituan, GL Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, and Shoucheng Holdings. The funds will enhance R&D for autonomous driving technology, with plans to expand its Level 2 driving system to 34 vehicle models by the end of 2022, potentially powering over 1 million vehicles in three years. Haomo also produces Level 4 logistics vehicles for partners like Meituan and Alibaba.

Strategy Analytics reports that the smart speaker market grew by 10% year-over-year, reaching 39.3 million units shipped in Q3 2021. Smart display sales surged nearly 19% to 11.2 million units. Google led the smart display segment with 1.5 million units, while its Nest Mini topped overall sales at over 5 million units. However, ongoing supply chain issues, exacerbated by semiconductor shortages and COVID-19 variants, are affecting vendors, particularly in China, which typically accounts for 30%-40% of the market. These challenges may dampen growth until at least 2023.

Alibaba Group has announced ambitious sustainability goals, aiming for carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030. The company targets a 50% reduction in carbon intensity for Scope 3 emissions. Furthermore, Alibaba introduces a new Scope 3+ initiative to facilitate 1.5 gigatons of decarbonization by 2035. It commits to the Science Based Targets initiative and will enhance its governance structure with dedicated ESG committees to monitor progress. Alibaba plans to regularly report its advancements in ESG metrics with third-party verification.

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) announced the quarterly rebalancing of the NYSE FANG+™ Index, effective December 20, 2021. The index will now include Microsoft, replacing Twitter, keeping the total at 10 constituents. The NYSE FANG+™ Index tracks top technology and tech-enabled stocks, historically outperforming with an annualized return of 32.96% from September 2014 to November 2021. This change aims to maintain its status as a vital benchmark for U.S. tech companies.

JFrog Ltd. (NASDAQ: FROG) has launched free open-source scanning tools to help developers identify and address Apache Log4j vulnerabilities in their software. The four new tools are designed for both Java and Python environments and provide specialized scans for direct and transitive dependencies. With nearly half of global enterprises impacted by the Log4j vulnerability, JFrog aims to facilitate community collaboration to enhance security practices. The tools can be downloaded via GitHub and integrate easily into existing developer workflows.

Alibaba.com has launched its inaugural Grants Program, awarding $500,000 in grants, with 50 entrepreneurs each receiving $10,000. The program aims to support New Digital Entrepreneurs in various sectors, selected from over 12,000 applicants. Recipients are predominantly women and people of color, representing diverse backgrounds. The initiative seeks to tackle the financial challenges faced by small business owners and provides access to resources like the Alibaba.com Digitization Sprint. This program is a partnership with Hello Alice.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) has announced it will host a virtual 2021 Investor Day on December 16-17, 2021, China Standard Time. Key executives, including Daniel Zhang (CEO), Maggie Wu (CFO), and Toby Xu (Deputy CFO), will present. A webcast of the event will be available on the company's Investor Relations website prior to the event, with replays and summaries accessible afterward. Alibaba's mission is to simplify global commerce operations and build a lasting company for future generations.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) announced the appointment of Toby Xu as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective April 1, 2022. Maggie Wu, the outgoing CFO, will continue as a board director and partner in the Alibaba Partnership. Over her tenure, Wu significantly contributed to Alibaba's growth, leading multiple public listings. Xu, who has been with Alibaba since 2018, previously served as Deputy CFO and is expected to guide the company towards future success. This leadership change is part of Alibaba's succession planning for long-term stability.

Cvent has announced the appointment of two new Independent Board members, Marcela Martin and Jim Frankola, ahead of its merger with Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corp. II, expected to close on December 8, 2021. These appointments are aimed at leveraging their extensive experience in technology and finance to enhance Cvent's growth amidst the evolving events industry. With Cvent's successful pivot during the pandemic, the company aims to capitalize on the growing demand for digital and hybrid event solutions, positioning itself for a stronger market presence post-merger.