Shocking statistic of the day: The six heirs to the Wal-Mart (WMT +0.1%) fortune are as wealthy as the bottom 41.5% of U.S. families combined, according to analysis from the Economic Policy Institute. The Walton clan, known for speaking soft and carrying a big stick, are also trending higher at a faster pace than the masses with Wal-Mart on a resilient 22% YTD run. (Previous: WMT, investment or deflation hedge?) [View news story]
If you want to get rich start a business as Sam Walton did. If you want to get your food stamps - vote for Obama.
The SEC and Department of Justice are considering starting an investigation of the retail sector for possible breaches of the anti-foreign bribery law, Reuters reports. The deliberations follow allegations about Wal-Mart's (WMT) practices in Mexico, and after other unnamed retailers reported possible offenses by their employees. [View news story]
The DOJ is more corrupt than just about any company.
Labor experts expect the organized protests against Wal-Mart (WMT -0.4%) to have little if any effect on the retailing giant's bottom line. The prevailing thought is that although consumers have some sympathy for Wal-Mart workers and may sign online petitions, they are unlikely to vote with their wallets or bypass stores. [View news story]
No one is forced to work for Walmart or any other employer. Just ask Obama to send you a check.
Time is money: The driving force behind an initiative by Wal-Mart (WMT +0.5%) to test using iPhones as a self-checkout device is financial. Every extra second of transaction time at the Wal-Mart stores, adds about $12M in cashier wages. If smartphones could eventually clip 5 seconds from the average transaction checkout, the company just found about $60M behind the sofa cushions. [View news story]
Shocking statistic of the day: The six heirs to the Wal-Mart (WMT +0.1%) fortune are as wealthy as the bottom 41.5% of U.S. families combined, according to analysis from the Economic Policy Institute. The Walton clan, known for speaking soft and carrying a big stick, are also trending higher at a faster pace than the masses with Wal-Mart on a resilient 22% YTD run. (Previous: WMT, investment or deflation hedge?) [View news story]
The SEC and Department of Justice are considering starting an investigation of the retail sector for possible breaches of the anti-foreign bribery law, Reuters reports. The deliberations follow allegations about Wal-Mart's (WMT) practices in Mexico, and after other unnamed retailers reported possible offenses by their employees. [View news story]
Labor experts expect the organized protests against Wal-Mart (WMT -0.4%) to have little if any effect on the retailing giant's bottom line. The prevailing thought is that although consumers have some sympathy for Wal-Mart workers and may sign online petitions, they are unlikely to vote with their wallets or bypass stores. [View news story]
Time is money: The driving force behind an initiative by Wal-Mart (WMT +0.5%) to test using iPhones as a self-checkout device is financial. Every extra second of transaction time at the Wal-Mart stores, adds about $12M in cashier wages. If smartphones could eventually clip 5 seconds from the average transaction checkout, the company just found about $60M behind the sofa cushions. [View news story]