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Alibaba Soars 10.17% to $166.31 Amid Positive AI Policy Announcement

Daily Market Performance of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) - January 12, 2026

On January 12, 2026, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) experienced a significant increase in its stock price. The stock closed at approximately $166.31, which represents a gain of $15.35 or 10.17% compared to the previous close of $150.96. The stock opened at $157.47, reached a high of $167.69, and a low of $157.47 throughout the trading day. The trading volume was around 35.08 million shares, indicating strong investor participation and interest.

Market Performance Overview

The notable rise in Alibaba's stock price was primarily driven by several key factors impacting market sentiment:

  • Government Policy on AI and Manufacturing: A Chinese government announcement introduced a comprehensive "AI+ Manufacturing" action plan aimed at enhancing AI integration across various sectors, particularly manufacturing. This policy was perceived positively by investors, signaling growth opportunities for Alibaba, which has substantial investments in AI technologies.
  • Immediate Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Alibaba's stock surged by over 8% in early trading and maintained upward momentum, peaking at $167.69, reflecting strong bullish sentiment.

News Highlights Related to Alibaba Group

  1. AI and Manufacturing Policy: The Chinese government's initiative to support AI innovation in manufacturing is expected to provide financial backing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This development could drive increased demand for Alibaba’s cloud and AI services.
  2. Strong Performance from Ant Group: Ant Group, Alibaba’s fintech affiliate, reported a 20%-25% increase in international revenue, reaching an estimated $3.7 billion. This growth strengthens Alibaba’s competitive position globally in payment services alongside giants like Visa and Mastercard.
  3. Increased Options Trading Activity: Call options trading for Alibaba saw a 12% rise in volume, with 275,234 call options purchased, signaling optimistic investor expectations regarding the company’s future prospects.
  4. Qwen AI Model Success: Alibaba’s Qwen AI models surpassed 700 million downloads, positioning the company as a leader in the open-source AI field and enhancing its reputation within the technology sector.
  5. Investor Sentiment: Analysts highlighted Alibaba’s strategic investments in AI and cloud computing as key drivers for growth, reflecting improved overall investor confidence in the company’s long-term outlook.
  6. Earnings Call Insights: Recent earnings reports showed a year-over-year revenue increase of 10% (excluding certain subsidiaries). The Cloud Intelligence Group reported a 26% revenue growth, mainly fueled by strong demand for AI solutions, aligning with government technology advancement initiatives.

Conclusion

Alibaba Group Holding Limited demonstrated a robust market performance on January 12, 2026, driven by supportive government policies, solid revenue growth from key subsidiaries, and heightened investor interest in its AI capabilities. The upward stock movement reflects the company’s current operational strength and anticipated gains from ongoing investments in AI and cloud technology. These factors collectively position Alibaba for sustained growth in a rapidly evolving technological and market landscape.

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