Good results at Wal-Mart

As Wal-Mart reported first-quarter profit on Thursday that beat Wall Street estimates, the world's largest retailer also disclosed that it is expanding an internal probe into alleged bribes at its Mexico unit to include other countries.

Wal-Mart also acknowledged in a government filing that the accusations could hurt the company and that media coverage of the scandal could harm its reputation as a corporate citizen. The company listed possible scenarios that could arise from an investigation, from fines to criminal convictions.

“The company can provide no assurance that these matters will not be material to its business in the future,” Wal-Mart said in the filing.

Wal-Mart's disclosures add to list of developments since the scandal was first reported by the New York Times last month. The paper revealed that the company allegedly failed to notify law enforcement its own investigators found evidence that officials authorized millions of dollars in bribes in Mexico in exchange for speedier building permits and other favors.