Wal-Mart awards bonuses to staff

Bentonville - Wal-Mart Stores has announced it has paid $2bn this year to its US employees in bonuses, merchandise discounts and retirement contributions.

The world's largest retailer said on Thursday that $934m of the money went toward bonuses, averaging to $666 for each of the company's $1.4m domestic workers.

Wal-Mart chief executive officer Mike Duke said $789m was paid in profit sharing and retirement contributions and the remainder went to the employee stock purchase plan and merchandise discounts for workers.

In a letter, Duke congratulated employees for Wal-Mart's recent successes in an economic environment that has its competitors struggling.

- AP