After eliminating its losses in the German market two years ago, Zalando announced on Friday that it had finally reached breakeven in terms of operating results (Ebit) for the big Berlin-based online retailer during the second quarter ended June 30. This would compare to a negative margin of 9 percent in the comparable period of last year, but the management indicated that Zalando may not be able to move into the breakeven zone for the full financial year because of price promotions planned for the third quarter. Based on preliminary figures, sales grew to a range between €520 million and €560 million, up from €437 million in the second quarter of last year. The improving results are raising investors' expectations that Zalando will go public soon, perhaps after it reports the final figures for the second quarter. However, according to the latest reports, Kinnevik and other shareholders are considering the flotation of only between 10 and 15 percent of the online retailer's capital instead of a previously projected 20 percent. One reason is the fact that Asos and other big internet retailers are trading on the stock exchange less briskly than before.  On the other hand, Alibaba has raised the planned introduction price of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange from $50 to $56, implying a total stock market capitalization of $130 billion for the Chinese company, which is said to control 80 percent of the country's e-commerce market (more in Shoe Intelligence).

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