Alibaba seen posting solid numbers in first earnings report since US IPO
E-commerce giant could surprise market with news of new US investments and partnerships
Jack Ma Yun will come under the media spotlight once again this week as Alibaba makes its first quarterly earnings report since setting a record for the world's largest initial public offering.
Alibaba's blockbuster US$25 billion flotation in New York in September and ambitious global expansion plans have made it the bellwether of the mainland's fast-growing internet industry and Ma, an English teacher-turned-entrepreneur, its unofficial poster boy.
New York-traded Alibaba will report earnings for its fiscal second quarter, ended September, before the US market opens tomorrow.
The Hangzhou-based e-commerce powerhouse is expected to announce solid financial results for the quarter, but Ma could also surprise investors with new investments and partnerships in the United States.
At a technology conference in the US last month, Ma expressed hope that Alibaba could "do something together" with technology giant Apple, particularly in the online and mobile payments arena.
Later, at the same conference, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the interest in dialogue and exploration of areas of cooperation was mutual.
"We love to partner with people who are wicked smart, that have flexible teams, that are product based and that push us … Jack has a company that is exactly like that … I think he's a brilliant guy, he has brilliant people in the company," Cook said. "So if we can find some areas of common space, I love it."