New York, January 25, 2026, 11:13 EST — Market closed
- Alibaba’s shares listed in the U.S. dropped 2.2% on Friday, even as its Hong Kong stock closed up.
- Investors are digesting new updates on AI chip supply alongside Alibaba Cloud’s recent efforts to boost partnerships.
- Look for the U.S. Fed to announce its rate decision on Jan. 28, with investors hunting for the next major catalyst.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s shares on the U.S. market dipped 2.2% Friday, ending at $173.23 after a late-week retreat erased some of the week’s earlier gains.
Global investors are increasingly turning back to China’s major tech firms, searching for value and a way to diversify away from U.S. risk. “We like China tech in particular because there’s some success there. There also seems to be government support,” UBS Global Wealth Management chief investment officer Mark Haefele told Reuters in Davos. Reuters
Alibaba is aiming to sharpen that narrative. On Jan. 23, Alibaba Cloud announced plans to boost incentives for partners in 2026, including a ten-fold increase in channel incentives and fresh funding for independent software vendors. Over $2 million is set aside for marketing support. “We see our global partners as co-creators shaping the future of AI-powered digital transformation,” said Dr. Feifei Li, senior vice president of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. AlibabaCloud
Alibaba’s shares in Hong Kong jumped 2.25% on Friday, closing at HK$168.50. The stock continues to react sharply as news breaks across different markets.
Chip supply remains a hot topic for traders. Bloomberg News revealed that Chinese officials have informed Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance they can start placing orders for Nvidia’s H200 AI chips. Investors view this as a key move for cloud companies battling over AI computing strength.
Alibaba is pushing further into chips. Bloomberg News reported Thursday that the company plans to take its AI chip unit, T-Head Semiconductor, public. The timing remains uncertain, and Alibaba has yet to comment on the report.
Alibaba is ramping up its Qwen App within its ecosystem, aiming to move beyond simply answering prompts to offering tools that actually complete tasks. “AI is evolving from intelligence to agency,” said Alibaba vice president Wu Jia in a company statement about the upgrade. Alibaba Group
As U.S. markets remain closed for the weekend, investors await the next cues — especially any official word on timing. Alibaba’s investor relations page lists no scheduled events at the moment.
That said, the scenario has its risks. Changes to U.S. export restrictions on advanced chips, weaker Chinese consumer demand, or a pullback in crowded “China tech” trades could weigh on the stock. At the same time, increased AI spending might squeeze margins if revenue growth doesn’t keep pace.
The earliest key macro event is the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting on Jan. 27–28. The policy decision will drop at 2:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 28, followed by a press conference at 2:30 p.m., per the Fed’s calendar.
Looking ahead, earnings calendars from Investing.com mark Feb. 19 for Alibaba’s next report. Investors will be watching closely to see if its AI and cloud investments translate into actual revenue — not just buzz.
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