International Business

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday it is continuing its annual tradition of increasing shareholder payout by raising its dividend by 9%.

Wal-Mart will pay a quarterly dividend of 39.75 cents on April 4 to shareholders of record on March 12. That works out to $1.59 per share for the year. The company has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend in March 1974.

According to Wal-Mart president and CEO Mike Duke, the company's U.S. business is back on track, and international results remain strong.

New York City -- Women’s apparel retailer Cache Inc. said Thursday that it has partnered with e-commerce solution provider FiftyOne Global Ecommerce to facilitate international sales and shipments to more than 100 countries, beginning in fall 2012.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — When people are working -- whether at a small business or large corporation -- they need office supplies, so when a company such as Staples delivers a retail sales increase for the fourth quarter, it is good sign that the economy is improving.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. beat Wall Street estimates as its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 3.2% to $283.6 million. Weakness in Europe and Australia was offset by the company’s strongest North American retail sales growth in more than a year.

Total company sales rose 0.7% to $6.46 billion, while analysts expected about $6.45 billion. Sales at Staples’ North American delivery segment and domestic retail segment, which together account for about 80% of the company's revenue, rose 2% to $5.16 billion.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco is off to a good start in 2012, with high increases in second-quarter sales and earnings.

The company reported that net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 10% to $22.51 billion, from $20.45 billion last year. Total comparable-store sales for the quarter increased 8%, consisting of an 8% increase at both U.S. and international clubs. Excluding the impact of fuel, comparable-store sales were up 7%, consisting of a 7% increase at U.S. clubs and a 10% increase at international clubs.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group announced that its first DestinationXL store in the Middle East will open this spring in Symphony Mall, Kuwait City, Kuwait, under a franchise agreement between one of its subsidiaries and The Standard Arabian Business & Enterprises Company (SABECO).

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Three Wal-Mart Stores executives will share insights at two key retail conferences on March 7.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. is expanding its footprint in Latin America. Leveraging its franchise model, the company has opened its first stores in Panamá and plans to introduce its brands to three additional Latin American countries: Colombia, Uruguay, and Peru.