Alibaba Group Holding Limited American Depositary Shares, each represents eight Ordinary Shares - BABA STOCK NEWS

36Kr Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: KRKR) announced the launch of LumiWink, an AI-powered e-commerce store on Taobao, strengthening its position as an industry leader in AI applications. This new initiative employs AI throughout key operational processes, including naming, setup, and product design, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs significantly.

The store's launch has garnered significant attention, becoming a trending topic on social media platform Weibo, and reflects 36Kr's dedication to innovation. By integrating AI technology, the company aims to optimize its operations and explore diverse monetization opportunities in China's burgeoning New Economy.

Alibaba.com reports an 88% increase in global buyer interest for sustainable products from 2022 to 2023. This significant rise highlights a growing trend toward eco-friendly purchasing across various sectors such as personal care, beauty, and household items. The top countries driving this demand are the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany. A notable Yelp data shows a considerable surge in keyword searches related to sustainability, suggesting a shift in consumer preferences. In the U.S., standout products include sustainable shampoo bars and organic face serum, marking substantial year-over-year growth. Alibaba.com aims to assist SMBs and suppliers in meeting this evolving demand by providing a centralized platform for accessing over six million sustainable products worldwide.

Alibaba hosted a hybrid conference for its Global Digital Talent (GDT) program, highlighting its commitment to digital economy education globally. The GDT initiative, part of the eWTP initiative, aims to facilitate access to cross-border trade for youth and SMEs. It has trained 1,400 teachers and tens of thousands of students from 30 institutions worldwide since 2017. Agreements were signed with INTI International University and NTUC LearningHub to enhance local digital talent development. The program is set to train 400 teachers and reach 10,000 students in the coming year, continuing its global expansion across various regions.

Alibaba Group highlights the empowerment of female entrepreneurs in emerging markets through its Netpreneur Training program. Recent statistics reveal that women in lower-income countries are twice as likely to consider starting a business as their high-income counterparts. Over 500 female entrepreneurs have graduated from this program, which aims to bridge gender and income inequality by providing digital entrepreneurship training. Notably, female early-stage entrepreneurs in these regions are now 17% more likely than men to adopt new technologies, enhancing their ability to start businesses amidst economic challenges.

Alibaba.com released its 2023 Guide to Stay Competitive to assist small businesses in the U.S. amid challenging economic conditions. The guide provides data-driven insights and actionable strategies tailored to both essential and non-essential product categories. Notably, 53% of consumers are cutting back on non-essential spending, while active B2B buyer growth for essential products is at 40.3%, compared to just 16.5% for non-essentials. The report emphasizes the importance of product differentiation and cost leadership to maintain a competitive edge. Alibaba.com is committed to supporting American SMBs through resources and tools to succeed in today's volatile market.

Alibaba Group reported a revenue of RMB247,756 million (US$35,921 million) for Q4 2022, marking a 2% year-over-year growth. Operating income surged 396% to RMB35,031 million (US$5,079 million), primarily due to a significant reduction in goodwill impairment. Net income rose 138% to RMB45,746 million (US$6,633 million). The company continued to optimize costs and reported a free cash flow increase of 15% to RMB81,514 million (US$11,818 million). Despite challenges in their China commerce segment, the international commerce and Cainiao logistics segments showed robust growth. Alibaba also repurchased 45.4 million ADSs for US$3.3 billion as part of their shareholder return strategy.

Alibaba Group is enhancing its commitment to sustainability by promoting carbon neutrality in the consumer industry through collaboration with ecosystem partners. The company is working on developing standards for low-carbon goods aimed at improving the supply and quality of sustainable products. Alibaba has pledged to reduce 1.5 gigatons of carbon emissions across its digital ecosystem by 2035 using its innovative 'Scope 3+' concept, which addresses emissions beyond its direct operations. Chief Marketing Officer Chris Tung emphasized the importance of community efforts in tackling the consumer sector's carbon footprint effectively.