Reuters: Alibaba expected to postpone up to $15 billion Hong Kong listing

Reuters reported that China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has delayed a listing in Hong Kong worth up to $15 billion "amid growing political unrest in the Asian financial hub, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters."

"Alibaba's Hong Kong-listing plans are being closely watched by the financial community for indications on the business environment in the Chinese-controlled territory and provides a window into Beijing's reading of the situation," the news agency wrote.

Reuters' sources reported that the decision to postpone the deal, initially set to launch in late August, was taken at a board meeting before Alibaba's earnings release last week. The delay was due to the lack of financial and political stability in Hong Kong, the people added, following more than 11 weeks of frequently violent pro-democracy demonstrations which have plunged the city into turmoil.

Following unrest during which the police fired over 1,000 rounds of tear gas and arrested more than 700 people, the airport was shut down last week.

With the Hong Kong Gem & Jewellery Fair just weeks away, representatives of the major the diamond industry and trade hubs sent a joint letter earlier this month, asking the show management - Informa Markets - to postpone the event. The show, however, show management announced, will go on.