CHICAGO/BOCA RATON, Florida (Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday that U.S. sales weakness persisted into early February, as Americans absorbed the impact of higher payroll taxes and gasoline prices, along with slow tax refunds that put some spending on hold.

The weakness came even as the world’s largest retailer reported a bigger-than-expected profit increase, which was helped by a lower-than-anticipated tax rate. Wal-Mart also raised its dividend payout.

CHICAGO/BOCA RATON, Florida (Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Thursday that U.S. sales weakness persisted into early February, as Americans absorbed the impact of higher payroll taxes and gasoline prices, along with slow tax refunds that put some spending on hold.

The weakness came even as the world’s largest retailer reported a bigger-than-expected profit increase, which was helped by a lower-than-anticipated tax rate. Wal-Mart also raised its dividend payout.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Venezuela’s latest currency devaluation will hurt a range of U.S. and European companies that sell to consumers in the country, as state-imposed price controls make it more difficult for those companies to protect their profits.

On Friday Venezuela devalued the bolivar by 32 percent, its fifth such move in a decade. For U.S. companies that do substantial business in the country, such as Colgate-Palmolive Co (CL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Avon Products Inc (AVP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), that means their earnings in bolivars are now worth less when converted back to dollars.

Feb 6 (Reuters) – CVS Caremark Corp said on
Wednesday it bought Drogaria Onofre, Brazil’s eighth-largest
drugstore chain last week, marking the first time the drugstore
and pharmacy services company has ventured outside the United
States.

Onofre’s stores will continue to be managed locally by two
brothers currently running the chain, and the acquisition should
not affect CVS’s finances in 2013, Chief Executive Larry Merlo
told Reuters.

Feb 6 (Reuters) – CVS Caremark Corp posted a
bigger-than-anticipated rise in fourth-quarter profit on
Wednesday, helped by growth at both its pharmacy services
business and its CVS drugstore chain, and made its first
international push by buying a Brazilian retailer.

CVS Caremark said it bought Drogaria Onofre, Brazil’s
eighth-largest drugstore chain by sales, last week. The move
comes months after larger U.S. drugstore rival Walgreen Co
stepped out of the United States for the first time when
it bought a 45 percent stake in Europe’s Alliance Boots
, with the option to purchase the rest of it in about
three years.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NWL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Friday, but gave a forecast that 2013 could fall short of Wall Street expectations as the consumer products maker spends more on advertising to increase business in North American and emerging markets.

Under Chief Executive Mike Polk, who took the Newell helm in July 2011, the maker of Sharpie markers and Rubbermaid storage containers has cut jobs, consolidated manufacturing and distribution facilities, and reduced the number of business units to control costs.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NWL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday, buoyed by its business in emerging markets and a lower tax rate, but 2013 profit may fall short of Wall Street expectations.

Under Chief Executive Mike Polk, who took the Newell helm in July 2011, the maker of Sharpie markers and Rubbermaid storage containers has cut jobs, consolidated manufacturing and distribution facilities, and reduced the number of business units to control costs.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Labor groups that have long spoken out against Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) will stop much of their picketing against the world’s largest retailer, though they still plan to continue to push the company to improve working conditions.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, or UFCW, and OUR Walmart reached an agreement with the National Labor Relations Board, the groups and Walmart said on Thursday.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Colgate-Palmolive Co (CL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Thursday a key measure of sales growth slowed for the second quarter in a row as the company faced increased pressure in Venezuela.

Shares of the toothpaste maker fell as much as 3.7 percent, even as fourth-quarter profit rose slightly more than expected. The stock is up 6 percent so far this month after rising 13.2 percent in 2012, and some analysts suggested investors use the weakness as a buying opportunity.

Jan 31 (Reuters) – Colgate-Palmolive Co said on
Thursday a key measure of sales growth slowed for the second
quarter in a row as the company faced increased pressure in
Venezuela.

Shares of the toothpaste maker fell as much as 3.7 percent,
even as fourth-quarter profit rose slightly more than expected.
The stock is up 6 percent so far this month after rising 13.2
percent in 2012, and some analysts suggested investors use the
weakness as a buying opportunity.