WAL-MART soon starts in Russia

Wal-Mart has joined the Russian retail association, the lobby group said, the latest in a series of moves indicating the world's largest retailer's interest in expanding into Russia.

 Members of the association include
French retail giants Carrefour and Auchan, Germany's Metro and
Russia's largest food retailers X5 Retail Group and Magnit. In April,
Wal-Mart appointed an executive to head its efforts to explore
business opportunities in Russia and neighbouring markets. In June,
the company said it was "exploring opportunities in Russia,"
weeks after it acknowledged taking "active steps" to
research Russia and nearby countries in Eastern Europe. A source with
an investment bank advising Wal-Mart told Reuters the company was in
acquisition talks with Russian chains that may need a cash injection.