BUSINESS MEMO: WAL-MART SALES UP

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s fourth-quarter profits rose 23 percent from a year ago, fueled by strong sales growth at its U.S. superstores and operations abroad.

The results reported last week by the world's largest retailer were slightly above expectations.

Wal-Mart earned $1.92 billion, or 43 cents a share, for the quarter ended Jan. 31, compared with $1.56 billion, up from 35 cents a share a year ago. That's above the 42 cents a share that analysts had forecast.