Ali-IPO a step closer

I wasn't going to blog on this as it didn't seem too new, but the papers have all got themselves in a lather about the next baby step in Alibaba's stately progress towards its IPO (it's almost August after all. They need something to write about). Following some statements by Jack Ma in Hangzhou (reported yesterday on Zhejiang.com), the company has confirmed that it has filed its papers with the Hong Kong stock exchange. One report suggested a Q3 listing while others agree that it is certainly likely before the end of the year.

The boys in Hangzhou appear to have taken a leaf out of Steve Jobs' book and are squeezing up the hype on this as though it were an Ali-iPhone and not just another China IPO. OK, fair dos, it's probably not just another China IPO. It'll be a big one.