International Business

Amsterdam -- Royal Ahold NV reported Thursday that its third-quarter profit fell 4.4% to $315 million. The Dutch owner of the Stop & Shop and Giant supermarkets in the United States cited higher taxes for the performance decline.

Sales rose 11% to $9.12 billion.

U.S. same-store sales rose 1%. In the Netherlands, where Ahold operates the dominant Albert Heijn chain, same-store sales rose 4.5%.
 

Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 30 soared to $61.3 million, compared with $6.1 million a year earlier. The company also said it would repurchase $200 million in shares.

Same-store sales increase 10%, and net sales were $1.99 billion compared with $1.78 billion last year.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Thursday it will open its first four stores in Washington, D.C., as part of the retailer’s effort to increase its urban expansion stride.

Wal-Mart said it plans to open the smaller-format urban stores in Washington, D.C. in late 2012, and said it has met little resistance from the area. The retailer said its poll of 800 locals found nearly three-quarters of Washingtonians favored Wal-Mart coming to the city.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples reported Thursday that profit for the third quarter rose 7% as the office supply retailer clamped down on expenses. Net income increased to $288.7 million, from $269.4 million.

Revenue edged up to $6.54 billion from $6.52 billion. Analysts expected $6.53 billion.

San Jose, Calif. -- VeriFone Systems, a global leader in secure electronic payment solutions, and Hypercom Corp., the high-security electronic payment and digital transactions solutions provider, Wednesday announced a definitive agreement under which VeriFone will acquire Hypercom in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $485 million, including net debt assumed by VeriFone.