WALMART

Wal-Mart Stores Inc expects an extremely competitive holiday shopping season, but its treasurer said on Thursday that weekly price cuts are driving consumers to its U.S. stores and Walmart.com is seeing record hits after it slashed book prices.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.

The Dow and the S&P 500 indexes were flat to slightly lower on Thursday, threatening to snap a six-session rally for the Dow, after a Wal-Mart Stores Inc forecast sparked concerns about consumer spending.

Wall Street was set to open lower on Thursday as a weak holiday quarter forecast from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc sparked concerns about consumer spending, threatening to break a six-session rally for the Dow.

U.S. stock index futures briefly pared losses on Thursday after weekly jobless data showed the number of U.S. workers filing new benefit claims fell for the second week in a row.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday as an earnings forecast from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc sowed doubt about consumer spending for the rest of 2009, threatening to end a six-session rally for the Dow.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc reported a higher quarterly profit as the world's biggest retailer clamped down on inventory and controlled expenses, but forecast earnings for the current period that could miss current Wall Street estimates.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc reported a higher quarterly profit as the world's biggest retailer clamped down on inventory and controlled expenses, but forecast earnings for the current period that could miss current Wall Street estimates.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday as investors awaited earnings from retail giant Wal-Mart after the Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at 13-month highs in the previous session.

US based personal computer maker Hewlett-Packard announced Wednesday it is acquiring 3Com. This acquisition deal is worth $ 2.7 billion, or $7.90 a share.

U.S. retailers are poised to defy gloom this week as earnings expectations have improved, but the big test will be what they say about holiday shopping.

As unemployment in the United States edges above 10 percent, anxious investors will look to earnings reports from major retailers for signs of life in the beaten-up consumer.

As unemployment in the United States edges above 10 percent, anxious investors will look to earnings reports from major retailers for signs of life in the beaten-up consumer.

Dollar General is set to go public next week, but the discount retailer could see mixed results in its closely watched initial public offering as its private equity backers have valued the company richly.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc is offering its top 10 pre-order DVD movie titles at just $10 and free home delivery on its entire assortment of DVD and Blu-ray titles in another move to win holiday sales.

U.S. online sales are expected to rise 8 percent this holiday season, with mass market retailers who can offer discounts performing best, according to Forrester Research Inc.

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Monday announced its second round of price cuts on toys as the world's biggest retailer backs up its intention to be the price leader this holiday shopping season.

Target Corp is expanding the number of items that qualify for free shipping on its website and rolling out the shipping promotion two weeks earlier than last year as it looks to win holiday sales.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc is now catering to its shoppers' needs from cradle to grave.

Electronics chain RadioShack Corp posted quarterly revenue that topped Wall Street expectations, helped by its push in mobile phones and calling plans, sending its shares up 16 percent to a year high.