The Retail – Discount Stores industry remains a strong pillar of the broader retail sector, benefiting from its focus on value, efficiency and consumer accessibility. Even as households face ongoing inflationary pressures and shifting spending patterns, discount retailers continue to attract steady foot traffic by offering competitive pricing, compelling assortments and convenient store formats. Their ability to blend affordability with quality — spanning essentials, discretionary goods and private labels — ...

Core Viewpoint - Alibaba's stock price has experienced a significant decline, with an 8.45% drop on October 10, marking a total decrease of 16.02% over six consecutive trading days, raising market concerns [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance - On October 10, southbound funds sold Alibaba shares worth 18.1 billion HKD, contributing to downward pressure on the stock price [1] - The Hang Seng Tech Index fell over 3% on the same day, indicating a broader tech sector pullback that affected Alibaba's stock [1] Group 2: Analyst Predictions - Morgan Stanley predicts a 70% year-on-year decline in adjusted earnings for Alibaba by the end of Q3 2025 due to investments in AI and instant retail, heightening market anxiety [1] - Despite short-term profit adjustments, Bank of America maintains a bullish outlook, reiterating a buy rating with a target price of $200, citing long-term growth potential from cloud services and e-commerce monetization [1][2] Group 3: Long-term Growth Potential - Bank of America forecasts Alibaba's cloud business to maintain a high growth rate, with revenue growth expected to accelerate to 30% year-on-year [1] - The report indicates that Alibaba's customer management revenue in e-commerce is projected to grow steadily by 10%, particularly benefiting from instant retail on Taobao [1] - By FY2028, Alibaba's net profit growth is expected to recover to 39%, supported by a valuation model that includes DCF valuation of core businesses and the value of Ant Group's equity [2]