Walmart Soothes Investor Fears

Walmart, America’s largest retailer, caused the market to freak out last week when an internal email complaining of slow sales surfaced. But the company allayed some investor concerns by reporting a better-than-expected profit for its most recent quarter. In the just-completed fourth quarter, which included the crucial holiday season, Walmart’s same-store sales rose just one percent. Investors were cheered by the profits, and by an announcement that the company would increase its dividend.