Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has announced flat profits of $3.02 billion and slightly lower sales of $93.5 billion, down from $94 billion, for the first three months of this year compared with a year ago.   For the current quarter, the world's biggest retailer forecast results roughly in line with analysts' expectations as it faces tough comparisons with a year ago, when it got a boost from customers spending tax rebate cash in its stores.  "We're pleased to report that fiscal year 2010 is off to a very good start," said Wal-Mart chief executive Mike Duke.

The worldÔÇÖs second-largest brewer, SABMiller has reported a 9 percent fall in annual profits to $2.96 billion, despite putting up the prices of its beers in response to rising commodity costs, and said it plans to scale back investment. ┬á The company's beer brands include Peroni, Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Lite. ┬á London-based SABMiller said it is looking to trim expenses ÔÇ£country by countryÔÇØ as it stops price increases in weaker markets such as South Africa and Colombia.

The worldÔÇÖs second-largest brewer, SABMiller has reported a 9 percent fall in annual profits to $2.96 billion, despite putting up the prices of its beers in response to rising commodity costs, and said it plans to scale back investment. ┬á The company's beer brands include Peroni, Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Lite. ┬á London-based SABMiller said it is looking to trim expenses ÔÇ£country by countryÔÇØ as it stops price increases in weaker markets such as South Africa and Colombia.

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Europe's largest energy firm, E.On, has reported an 18 percent increase in quarterly profits thanks to a revenue growth in Italy and Spain, offsetting a recent decline in the UK. ┬á E.OnÔÇÖs net profit of 2.5 billion euros in January to March is up from 2.1 billion euros last year. ┬á The German firm said that the recession had hit UK electricity usage, with sales falling 8 percent compared to the same period last year, but revenue was still boosted by the opening of new power stations in Italy and Spain.

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Banking on oil┬áAbby Badwi of Bankers Petroleum talks to Ruari McCallion about names, exploration and being a Canadian company with the biggest stake in EuropeÔÇÖs largest onshore oilfield. The rapid rise in oil prices during 2007ÔÇô08 brought a lot of marginal fields into play and raised hopes for the profitability of hard-to-extract oil resources.