阿里巴巴報告強勁營收增長

Alibaba recorded better than expected profits and revenues in its third quarter as it played down concerns about China’s flagging economy and an ongoing investigation, ahead of an annual online shopping spree.

阿里巴巴(Alibaba)在2017財年二季度錄得好於預期的利潤和營收。在一年一度的在線購物狂歡前夕，該集團淡化了對於中國經濟增長乏力以及它正受到調查的擔憂。

The ecommerce group said preparations for Singles Day on November 11 had not been affected by an investi¬gation into its accounting practices by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

這家電子商務集團稱，11月11日“光棍節”的籌備工作沒有受到美國證券交易委員會(SEC)對其會計實踐的調查影響。

As part of its probe the SEC has asked about the large unaudited sales numbers Alibaba publishes for Singles Day. Analysts have said this refers to gross merchandise value, a measure used for total sales across platforms.

作爲其調查的一部分，SEC對阿里巴巴報告的未經審計的光棍節巨大銷售額提出了問題。分析師們表示，這是指總商品價值(GMV)，用於跨平臺總銷售額的一種衡量指標。

For the first time Alibaba did not report gross merchandise value in the second quarter, but on a conference call with analysts yesterday Daniel Zhang, chief executive, said: “GMV so far looks good and growth is on track.”

阿里巴巴在第二財季首次沒有報告總商品價值，但在昨日面向分析師的電話會議上，首席執行官張勇(Daniel Zhang)說：“到目前爲止，GMV看起來不錯，增長保持在軌道上。”

Joe Tsai, executive vice-chairman, said there was “no factual basis” to a story in the New York Post newspaper alleging that a high-level whistleblower was aiding the US regulator.

執行副主席蔡崇信(Joe Tsai)表示，《紐約郵報》(New York Post)有關某個高層舉報人正在協助SEC的報道“沒有事實依據”。

The SEC has said its investigation does not mean Alibaba has broken any laws.

SEC表示，其調查並不意味着阿里巴巴違反了任何法律。

Alibaba shares climbed more than 4 per cent in pre-market trading in New York but were down 2.4 per cent at lunchtime.

阿里巴巴股價在紐約開盤前的交易中攀升逾4%，但截至午餐時分下降2.4%。

Sales in the three months to the end of September were Rmb34.3bn ($5.1bn), 55 per cent higher than a year before, topping Wall Street estimates of Rmb33.9bn. Earnings per share rose to Rmb5.26 from Rmb3.61 a year ago, beating expectations of Rmb4.69.

在截至9月底的三個月期間，營收達到343億元人民幣（合51億美元），同比增長55%，超過華爾街估計的339億元人民幣。每股盈餘從一年前的3.61元人民幣升至5.26元人民幣，高於預期的4.69元人民幣。

Alibaba sells space to merchants on its marketplaces, earning fees and advertising revenues. Revenue growth continued to be strong, despite an economic slowdown across China, mainly thanks to a 47 per cent increase in revenues from online marketing services, the group said. It reported 439m annual active buyers for the period, 14 per cent more than last year.

阿里巴巴向商家銷售其在線市場的空間，賺取收費和廣告收入。該集團稱，營收增長繼續強勁，儘管中國整體經濟增長放緩，主要得益於在線營銷服務的營收增加47%。報告期的年度活躍買家達到4.39億，同比增加14%。

Mr Tsai said Alibaba had fewer limits than its competitors on the amount of advertising its consumers would accept. “We operate a superior marketplace.”

蔡崇信表示，就消費者將會接受的廣告數量而言，阿里巴巴受到的限制少於競爭對手。“我們經營着一個優越的市場。”

He cited technological advances in the use of data to increase click-through rates. “Our ability to personalise every single user interface, so every person coming to the platform can see different products, and different recommendations — that drastically increases our ability to generate relevant clicks . . . and drive volumes,” said Mr Tsai.

他提到藉助數據使用方面的技術進步來提高點擊率。“我們能夠個性化每一個用戶界面，使得來到平臺的每個人都可以看到不同的產品和不同的建議，這大大提高了我們產生相關點擊的能力……推動銷售，”蔡崇信稱。

Net income dropped from Rmb22.7bn to Rmb7.1bn after a large non-cash revaluation gain last year from an interest in Alibaba Health.

淨利潤從去年同期的227億元人民幣降至71億元人民幣，主要原因是在阿里健康(Alibaba Health)持有的權益曾在去年錄得大額非現金重估增值收益。

Revenue rose 41 per cent in the core ecommerce business to Rmb28.5bn. Its cloud computing unit notched sales growth of 130 per cent to Rmb1.5bn.

核心的電商業務營收增長41%，達到285億元人民幣。雲計算部門銷售增長130%，達到15億元人民幣。

“We also see huge potential in our newly integrated digital media and entertainment unit,” said Mr Zhang.

“我們還看到了我們新近整合的數字媒體和娛樂部門的巨大潛力，”張勇表示。