Alibaba earnings forecast slashed on weak consumer spending

Alibaba Group Holding is expected to report on Nov 5, a week before China's busiest online shopping festival. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - Just as investors are watching whether a flurry of earnings reports due next month could revive Chinese technology shares, analysts slashed their forecasts on Alibaba Group Holding.

The company is expected to report on Nov 5, a week before China's busiest online shopping festival that's dubbed Singles' Day.

Analysts have lowered their consensus 12-month earnings projection by nearly 5 per cent over the past three weeks to the lowest since July last year, Bloomberg-compiled data show, amid weak momentum in domestic consumer spending.

Daiwa Capital Markets Hong Kong said the e-commerce firm was facing "one of the most challenging quarters", as it cut estimates recently.

Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares rebounded 24 per cent from a record low in the four sessions through Monday (Oct 11), but have since lost steam as concerns remain over China's technology regulations and slowing economic recovery.

The stock traded little changed as at 11.20am Singapore time on Friday as peers such as Tencent Holdings and JD.com gained at least 2.1 per cent each.

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