Cancer Drug Shrinks Tumors

An experimental cancer drug successfully shrank tumors in patients with different kinds of cancer, including typically hard-to-treat lung cancers, according to a new study. Oncologists said the research was encouraging, but more study was needed to know whether the drug would prolong life for cancer patients.

The study, led by Dr. Suzanne Topalian, was presented today at the Super Bowl of cancer professionals, a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In a small, early phase study, researchers used a drug targeting a portion of the body's immune system, a pathway called PD-1, which usually works to stop the body from fighting cancerous tumors. By shutting down the pathway, the drug stokes the body's immune system to fight tumor cells.

Researchers gave the drug to nearly 240 patients with advanced melanoma, colorectal, prostate, kidney and lung cancers. All the patients had tried up to five other treatments, which failed. After up to two years on the drug, tumors shrank in 26 of 94 patients with melanoma, nine of 33 patients with kidney cancer and 14 of 76 patients with lung cancer.

The drug was not without side effects. About 14 percent of patients in the trial reported conditions such as skin rashes, diarrhea or breathing problems.

Alan Kravitz, 70, took the drug for two years to treat his melanoma, which had been diagnosed in the spring of 2007. He said the drug gave him a sunburn that lasted for two months and some mild fatigue. But the tumors that had spread to his lungs were gone.

"My first CT scans showed that the tumors in my lungs basically disappeared," he said. "It enabled my own immune system to kill the tumors. Quite an amazing drug."

Cancer specialists said the fact that the drug caused tumors to shrink, rather than simply to stop growing, is an important measure of success.

"Traditionally in cancer medicine, a tumor that shrinks is an indication that you're killing the cancer," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology and oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La.

To see that kind of success against several different kinds of cancer, particularly against melanoma, kidney and lung cancers, which are notoriously unresponsive to many of the usual treatments doctors use to thwart them, was also unusual,.

David Grobin, 62, a retired Baltimore police officer, underwent nearly three years of unsuccessful chemotherapy and radiation for his lung cancer before taking the drug in February 2011. Now, he said his tumors hadn't totally disappeared, but they are much smaller than they were.

"How lucky can a person be? This is better than anything that I have had before," Grobin said.

"To see this kind of response in cancers that are so difficult to treat is very encouraging," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

The study did not show whether patients lived longer after taking the drug, but experts said early phases of drug trials typically aren't designed to determine improvements in survival. As scientists study the drug in larger numbers of patients for longer periods of time, the drug's success in prolonging life for cancer patients will become clearer.

Lichtenfeld also noted that early trials of drugs are intended to show whether a drug is safe, and don't usually find impressive numbers of patients who respond to the drug. To see those numbers emerging early in drug trials is encouraging, he said.

fat tuesday king cake george washington carver mardi gras fun. hepatitis c symptoms david bradley

Vilma's lawyer challenges ledger

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

roddy white roddy white howard stern howard stern free shipping day free shipping day golden globe nominations 2012

Computer Registry Maintenance Software To Clean Your PC

When you buy a PC you are making a major investment?computers may not be out of this world expensive but they are definitely not cheap. Hence, PCs are not something that most people can afford to replace on a whim, whenever they feel like it. This is why computer maintenance is so important: you want to make sure that your get the most bang for your buck out of your PC?you want to make every penny that you spend worth it.

There are many ways that you can take care of your PC, but we want to focus specifically on one feature that doesn?t always get enough attention: the Windows registry. Regular maintenance of your Windows registry is a key component of a successful users experience but many PC users are unaware of this fact. There are many ways to keep your PC registry in apple-pie order, including registry optimizer software, but let?s first go over some basics vis ? vis the Windows registry.

The Windows registry is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, but depending on how well you take care of it, it can be either your best friend or your worst nightmare. This is because the Windows registry is like the mother ship of all of your PC?s various programs and apps. The registry contains and organizes the DLL files that facilitate the use of the apps and programs on your Windows interface. When the registry gets backed up with files that are old or useless (i.e. a computer that is overcrowded with apps and programs), your friendship with your PC will begin to sour for the following reasons:

• Slowness: A crowded, messy registry means a slow computer. You will have difficulty opening apps; it will take forever for programs to function, for things to download.
• Deep Freeze: Your computer may fall into a deep freeze when the registry gets messy. The Windows interface may freeze up for no reason, forcing you to force quit and restart.
• Crash: Sometimes, the registry gets so overloaded with old files and even malware that your PC simply can?t take it anymore and it crashes and burns. Not a pretty sight.

None of the abovementioned issues contribute to a positive relationship between user and computer. But just like relationships in the reals world, computer user relationships only work with regular maintenance. To keep your PC registry lean and clean you need to take good care of it and you can do this by enlisting the aid of computer registry maintenance software also known as registry cleaner software and registry optimizer software.

Computer registry maintenance software is by far the best option for taking care of your Windows registry. The only other real alternative is to manually undertake registry repair and this is not really a viable option. First of all, very few people have the expertise required to know how to manually scan and repair problems in the Windows registry, and no to be blunt but if you are reading this article than chances are you are not a technology or PC expert. Second, most people (PC experts included) simply do not have the time to manually scan their computer registry. It could take weeks to properly go through all the DLL files. Third, humans have rather large sources of error. Even tech experts can make major mistakes or gloss over problem files. They may possess the knowledge required to fix things but human sources of error like tiredness, being bored?these are things that can affect everyone and make it difficult to thoroughly scan the PC registry. And these issues are nonfactors in software.

Since a manual scan and repair of the Windows registry is pretty much out of the question, you are really left with only one other option: Registry cleaner software. While registry cleaner software is not 100% perfect, it is an excellent option for registry maintenance.

Registry repair software can be either paid or free so you do not have to be hindered by your budget to take advantage of it. However, free registry software should only be used if you have researched it and found the best brands (for example RegCure and CCleaner are always safe best). This is because free registry cleaner software can sometimes be malware or spyware in disguise, attacking your computer and leaving it in worse shape than when you began. Additionally, free registry software isn?t always designed by the top software developers. Think of it?money talks and money buys and the best talents usually don?t want to work for free. Furthermore, both free and paid registry cleaner software can sometimes make mistakes by accidentally deleting important files from your Windows registry; sometimes they overlook files that are the problem. However, if you always have a back-up of your original registry you can avoid these problems.

Now that we have gotten the disclaimers out of the way, let?s talk about some of the benefits of registry cleaner software. Registry cleaners can go through your entire Windows registry in a matter of hours and clean everything up. They scan and locate DLL files that are problematic and then reorganize them hierarchically for optimal computer usability. Good registry cleaners will also offer quick and helpful customer service options as well as backing up your original Windows registry for safety purposes. In essence, when you have a good registry cleaner like RegCure or CCleaner, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride to a faster computer experience.

Regular registry maintenance is a key component to a more enjoyable relationship and experience with your Windows PC. It is important that you be a proactive computer user and take care of your PC before it becomes problematic?don?t wait for it to slow down and freeze up. All it requires is a little research on registry cleaner software and an interest in protecting your computer investments in order to keep your PC running quickly and efficiently.

the weeknd the weeknd payroll tax payroll tax aisha khan alanis morissette vanessa bryant

Human Accountants and Accounting Software | Payroll Accounting ...

If you are offered with accounting software, your first reply may be: ?Why should I get one, if my company already has certified public accountants?? If you think that your team of human accountants is enough to record all company expenses, consider that humans make mistakes. One mistake in computing compensations or declaring of taxes brings trouble to your company.

To avoid such misfortune, your company should invest on accounting software that primarily facilitates the duties of your accounting team. This software help your accountants plan the company budget, come up with understandable reports and monitor all business expenses.

Company Budget

Isn?t it a headache when your accountant makes you wait long minutes or hours when you inquire about funds? This is one among a number of situations that accounting software aspires to remove. The software has a budgeting feature that allows you to see if your next project is feasible or not. This software makes an estimate of the material and labor costs of a project, which is very helpful in future company planning.

Understandable Reports

Don?t you find it weird when your accountants pass reports that only math geniuses can understand? Worry no more because accounting software produces neat spreadsheets and charts, making financial reports easier to understand. In addition, the accounting for non profit organization software helps on detecting any fraud committed by your accounting team. As humans make mistakes, it?s imperative not to totally trust your accountant. No matter how long your accountant has been with you, you cannot guarantee that he will not steal from you.

Business Expenses

The accounting software records all company expenses including tax payments, employee payrolls, rent and funds for supplies. In addition, this software alerts you about deadlines. Never again will your company pay for deadline penalties. Aside from notifying you about deadlines, this software also informs you of grants for it also does fund raising by contacting your connections. Simply, this accounting for non profit organization software also serves as a communication system.

Apart from the nonprofit fund accounting software?s accounting efforts, it also is very helpful in keeping your contacts, recording inventory and giving day-to-day progress reports.

lil boosie new edition austerity rihanna and chris brown back together bobbi kristina brown keanu reeves pebble beach

'Scrap Iron' boosts 'The Rocket' at Clemens trial

By JOSEPH WHITE

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 7:09 p.m. ET May 31, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) - Phil Garner told one great Roger Clemens story after another.

Clemens working out in a flak jacket with 60 pounds of weights. Clemens yelling at himself. Clemens yelling at others. Clemens noticing that home plate was a little bit out of line.

Garner was sitting on a witness stand, but he sounded at times as if he were again a major league baseball manager, spinning yarns in a casual pregame dugout chat.

None of those stories involved Clemens using performance-enhancing drugs.

"Scrap Iron," the nickname Garner earned as a player, gave "The Rocket" a boost Thursday as he testified for the defense in the perjury trial of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.

Garner, the longtime infielder and Clemens' manager for 2 1/2 years with the Houston Astros, became the latest in a string of witnesses to speak glowingly of Clemens' leadership and work ethic. The testimony is part of an effort to portray the former pitching star as an athlete who achieved great success late in his career through hard work, intelligence and unrivaled intensity.

"Ever see Roger Clemens cut corners?" Clemens' lawyer Rusty Hardin asked.

"Never did," Garner replied.

Prosecutors say Clemens used steroids and human growth hormone to help prolong his career. That claim is supported firsthand by only one witness, Clemens' former strength coach, Brian McNamee. Clemens is charged with lying when he told Congress in 2008 that he never used either substance.

To counter McNamee, the defense has called friends and associates of Clemens from high school, college and his years with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and now the Astros.

Garner regaled the court with insider baseball tales that any fan would enjoy, including the time that players' wives danced on the dugout when the Pittsburgh Pirates were on the way to winning the 1979 World Series. It's uncertain how such talk was received by a jury consisting mostly of Washingtonians who don't follow the sport.

During Garner's first spring training with the Astros in 2005, he recalled seeing Clemens at the ballpark at 7:30 a.m. working out in a heavy flak jacket, then going for a run before returning outside after lunch for some "PFP" (pitchers' fielding practice). Garner thought it all "totally weird" because Clemens was supposed to pitch that day.

"Rocket, what in the world are you doing?" Garner asked.

"Skip, I'm trying to get my legs as tired as possible so it's like it's the ninth inning when I'm out there today," Clemens replied, according to Garner.

Garner also spoke about an area at the end of the Astros dugout called "Rocket Hole," where Clemens kept bananas and Gatorade to recover between innings. During one game, Garner said he turned and saw Clemens pacing and yelling at himself: "What is going on?! Are you going to pitch tonight or are you not going to pitch tonight?! Are you going to get anybody out tonight?"

Garner also said Clemens threw a tantrum and berated Astros coach Doug Mansolino for not hitting practice grounders hard enough on a "steamy hot" afternoon in Cincinnati when everyone was tired from an overnight flight.

"Is that all you got?!" Garner yelled, imitating the Clemens outburst.

"It became a war" between Clemens and Mansolino, Garner said.

Clemens was in his 40s by the time he was playing for the Astros. Garner said Clemens' fastball wasn't as fast as it used to be, but the pitcher made up for it by pitching smarter. Clemens won his seventh Cy Young Award with Houston in 2004.

"He continued to have great success, but for different reasons," Garner said. "He didn't just overpower teams; he outsmarted teams. ... He wasn't as domineering as he was earlier."

Prosecutors have yet to make much of a dent in cross-examining any defense witness. In fact, prosecutor Steven Durham, in a line of questioning apparently designed to show that Clemens would do anything to succeed, got another fascinating story volunteered by Garner about an incident from 2005 spring training.

"Roger walked up on the mound and said, `Home plate's turned a little bit,"' Garner testified.

Garner was puzzled. So was the grounds crew. After all, the field had been laid out using a laser.

Nevertheless, the plate was checked again.

"Sure enough," Garner said, "it was turned one-quarter inch off."

Another defense witness, Houston orthopedic surgeon Larry Likover, a longtime friend of the Clemens family, testified he used to give the painkiller Vioxx to Clemens. Clemens has said he used to eat "Vioxx like it was Skittles," a statement the government has used to imply that Clemens would have no aversion to abusing drugs to remain competitive.

Reinforcing that point, Durham asked Likover whether the doctor would ever put "eat like Skittles" on a Vioxx prescription. Likover said no.

Also called by the defense was the woman who used to clean Clemens' New York apartment when he played for the Yankees - she happened to be there on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The woman said she never saw needles or vials in the apartment during the half-dozen or so times she cleaned the place, but, under cross-examination, she said she didn't look through Clemens' personal things and was never there at night. McNamee has testified that he injected Clemens with steroids at the apartment during the 2001 baseball season.

Next was massage therapist Cheryl Redfern, who said she gave Clemens massages from 1995-2003. Redfern said she never saw acne on Clemens' body or noticed any changes in his upper body. The jury has heard that both are possible by-products of steroid use.

Finally, in an unusual display of efficiency in a trial that's been going on for seven weeks, both sides rushed through the testimony of FBI expert Richard Vorder Bruegge.

Vorder Bruegge said he determined that a June 9, 1998, photo of Clemens and a boy in a pool at Blue Jays teammate Jose Canseco's house in Florida was taken between 2:55 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. The boy in the photo, Alexander Lowrey, testified he thought the photo was taken around 3 p.m. One of the lesser allegations against Clemens is that he lied when he said in his congressional deposition that he wasn't at Canseco's house at all that day, but U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton indicated Thursday that the allegation might be dismissed because it's not material to the overall case.

A more intriguing name on the defense witness list is McNamee's estranged wife, Eileen McNamee. The McNamees are in the midst of a contentious divorce, and the defense wants to call her to continue its attack on Brian McNamee's integrity.

But first there are legal entanglements to sort out.

Eileen McNamee had been granted immunity as a possible government witness, although she never took the stand, and her lawyer wants assurances that the immunity remains intact if she testifies on behalf of Clemens. That's because Brian McNamee, during his testimony, may have implicated her in a number of criminal matters, such as possible mail fraud.

At the judge's urging, Eileen McNamee's lawyer planned to speak with prosecutors to discuss the matter on Friday, when the trial will be in recess because of a juror's schedule conflict. While the jury won't return until Tuesday, Walton intends to deal with some pending motions, like the one involving McNamee's wife, on Monday afternoon.

---

Associated Press writer Frederic J. Frommer contributed to this report.

---

Follow Joseph White at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Follow Fred Frommer at http://twitter.com/ffrommer

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement

More newsJim Rogash / Getty Images

Something to smile about

??Prince Fielder tripled and the Detroit Tigers avoided a four-game sweep with a 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday night.

taylor momsen xbox live update joan rivers gary carter dies oolong tea survivor one world lil kim

Wal-Mart chairman: Integrity 'is our business'

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc executives told shareholders they would not stand for unethical behavior at the world's largest retailer, whose shares have soared to 12-year highs as strong results more than offset concerns about bribery allegations.

Friday's annual shareholders meeting was the first time that Chairman Rob Walton, a son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, publicly addressed the issue of possible bribery in Mexico. Both he and Chief Executive Mike Duke were named in an April New York Times report which suggested that Wal-Mart executives knew of bribes paid to officials in Mexico and squelched an internal investigation.

Despite the scandal, Wal-Mart's meeting served largely as a 50th anniversary party. The upbeat event was hosted by actor, singer and entrepreneur Justin Timberlake and featured performances from Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion and other entertainers.

"Acting with integrity is not a negotiable part of this business. It is our business, we will not tolerate violations of the FCPA or ethical wrongdoing of any kind," Walton said, referring to a U.S. law against bribing foreign officials.

The New York Times reported that management at Wal-Mart de Mexico, or Walmex, allegedly had orchestrated bribes of $24 million to help it grow quickly and that Wal-Mart's top brass had tried to cover it up. Now, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and government agencies in Mexico are investigating the allegations while Wal-Mart conducts an internal probe.

"Let me be clear: Wal-Mart is committed to compliance and integrity everywhere we operate," Duke said in a forceful tone.

"If you work for Wal-Mart, there is no gray area between right and wrong. It's either the right thing to do, or it shouldn't be done at all."

Large pension funds and a scrappy group of employee shareholders were among those who had called for the removal of leaders such as Walton and Duke from the board for their alleged connection to the bribery scandal. But that attempt failed; every company nominee was elected. The number of shares voted for and against each of 16 board members will be disclosed on Monday, Wal-Mart said.

"We have seen what happened with Mexico, when some people were so focused on growth at any cost they forgot our code of ethics," said Jackie Goebel, 60, a company employee for 24 years.

Goebel belongs to the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, which is affiliated with a major grocery union and spent the last couple of days encouraging stockholders to vote against Duke and Walton.

Shareholders who tried to oust board members knew their efforts would only be symbolic since the Walton family controls roughly half of the retailer's 3.4 billion shares.

Voters also defeated three shareholder proposals.

The meeting was largely upbeat and nostalgic. To start the early morning affair, the children of founder Sam Walton -- Rob, along with his younger siblings Jim and Alice -- spoke about the work they used to do in the stores when the chain got its start.

After the family's comments, Timberlake came out on stage in a hula skirt. Sam Walton donned such an outfit on Wall Street in 1984 after losing a bet, an event memorialized in a photo shown on the large screens at the meeting.

BRIBERY SCANDAL REMAINS A CONCERN

Wal-Mart has repeatedly said that it would not comment on the specific allegations until the investigations are complete.

"The executives have delivered a consistent message throughout the week about integrity, as well as the opportunity for growth," said Stewart Samuel, senior analyst with IGD, a global food and grocery research firm.

The company did not take investor questions during the meeting. A question-and-answer session held following the formal shareholders meeting was not open to the media.

Some shareholders believe that current board members, including Walton, Duke and former CEO Lee Scott, knew about the Mexico bribery and should have taken corrective action years ago. Several large U.S. public pension funds, including the California Public Employees' Retirement System, said they had planned to vote against certain board members.

Change-seeking shareholders had said the outcome of the election would not discourage them. No protests were seen at the meeting itself, though some had been planned in other parts of the country.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," said Carlton Smith, 51, who works in a Paramount, California, store and owns Wal-Mart stock. "We'll be back."

One difference from the previous three annual meetings was that Wal-Mart did not announce a new share repurchase plan. The company still has $9.7 billion remaining under last year's $15 billion program.

Wal-Mart stock, holding near 12-year highs, fell 0.4 percent to $65.55 in Friday afternoon trading, while the broad Standard & Poor's 500 stock index was down 2.2 percent amid concerns over a disappointing U.S. jobs report and other weak global economic signals. Wal-Mart shares traded at $53.66 a year ago.

"Many companies are still struggling, but not your company," said Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley, adding that sales, operating income and earnings per share are all growing.

Some 14,000 employees and shareholders attended Friday's festivities, held in the arena named after James "Bud" Walton, who helped pay for the basketball facility's construction and was Sam Walton's brother.

(Editing by Andre Grenon, Michael Perry, Lisa Von Ahn and Phil Berlowitz)

kurt warner kurt warner missouri primary minnesota caucus knowshon moreno knowshon moreno sovereign citizen

Greek conservatives promise lower taxes | Business and Finance ...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

paulina gretzky stoudemire jordan hill tony nominations dark knight trailer dallas mavericks washington capitals