Fred Business News - Wal-Mart Stores said Saturday that its sales for the crucial holiday period will probably grow by 1.6 percent, a stronger than expected result for the nation's leading retailer.

The company originally forecast that sales at stores open for more than a year, an important industry barometer called same-store sales, would grow at most by 1 percent.

Retail winners and losers

The Saturday announcement is a needed dose of good news for the retailer and the retail sector at large.

Despite Wal-Mart's early holiday ...   more »