BUSINESS MEMO: WAL-MART EARNINGS

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s first-quarter earnings rose sharply from a year ago, and the world's biggest retailer said it expects to maintain healthy sales and profit growth for the remainder of the year.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based chain reported last week that it earned $1.326 billion, or 30 cents a share, for the quarter ended April 30, compared with $916 million, or 20 cents a share, a year ago. Last year's results include a 4-cent charge for a change in the company's accounting practices.

Sales for the quarter totaled $42.99 billion, up from $34.71 billion a year ago. Sales at stores open at least a year, an industry gauge of performance, rose 9.1 percent.