Wal-Mart sees weak sales as holiday season starts (Reuters)

By Emily Kaiser 44 minutes ago CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT - news ) predicted a rare decline in monthly sales on Saturday, even as U.S. bargain-hunters jammed stores in search of gifts at the start of the crucial holiday shopping season. Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, sounded a cautious note for retailers as they began a second day of Thanksgiving weekend sales with deep discounts and early bird specials on items ranging from cashmere sweaters to plasma televisions ...