The US retail giant Walmart has unexpectedly divested its entire stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, ending an eight-year partnership. According to Bloomberg, citing informed sources, Walmart sold a total of 144.5 million shares at a price of $24.95 per share, generating proceeds of around $3.6 billion.

The news led to significant stock losses for JD.com. On the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the share price fell by 9 percent to 102.10 Hong Kong dollars on Wednesday. JD.com's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) listed on NASDAQ also decreased by 4.15 percent to 27.02 US dollars. In contrast, Walmart's stock on the New York Stock Exchange was able to gain 0.91 percent to 75.22 US dollars.

The Partnership Between Walmart and JD.com Began in 2016, When Walmart Acquired a 5 Percent Stake in the Chinese Company. The Sale of This Stake Indicates a Strategic Shift for the US Retailer, Which Now Aims to Focus More on Its Own E-Commerce and Delivery Services in China, Such as "Sam's Club". This Move Comes Amid an Increasingly Challenging Economic Environment in China, Characterized by the Real Estate Crisis, Market Uncertainties, and Weak Consumer Outlook.

JD.com recently released disappointing quarterly figures showing a slowdown in growth. Revenue in the second quarter rose only slightly to 291.4 billion yuan, reflecting the company's ongoing challenges. Since the beginning of last year, JD.com's market value has halved.

In response to the Walmart sale, JD.com announced the repurchase of its own shares worth $390 million.