Wal-Mart's January sales up 2.2%, topping view

11:40 am ET Feb 8, 2007

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Wal-Mart's January sales up 2.2%, topping view

NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Thursday posted a 2.2% increase in
January same-store sales, as robust sales of home electronics and
cold-weather items helped offset sluggish traffic.

HSBC's bad-debt charge to top $10 billion as U.S. market slows

LONDON -- Banking giant HSBC Holdings warned that bad-debt charges are
set to exceed forecasts by about $1.76 billion, as higher interest rates
and a lack of refinancing options in the slowing U.S. housing market
leave customers unable to pay their mortgages.