Joseph Agnese

(Reuters) - Walgreen Co <WAG.N> posted an unexpected drop in quarterly profit as the largest drugstore chain's margins were hurt in part by its contract dispute with pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc <ESRX.O>.

CHICAGO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walgreen Co <WAG.N> will stop filling prescriptions for people covered by drug benefits manager Express Scripts Inc <ESRX.O> at the end of 2011 after failing to agree on new contract terms, walking away from a deal worth more than $5 billion in annual sales.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CVS Caremark Corp <CVS.N> and Walgreen Co <WAG.N> ended an 11-day standoff over reimbursements for drug prescriptions, saving a relationship worth billions of dollars and lifting shares of the two biggest U.S. drugstore chains.

Whoelesale club operators see steady but modest gains against grocers. PORTLAND, Ore. ? A steady stream of shoppers looking for deals on necessities has helped wholesale club operators Costco Wholesale Corp. and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. deliver profit gains while many of their grocery competitors struggle.

Earnings Preview: Wal-Mart remains bright spot in retailing, expects strong 3rd qtr. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, reports its third-quarter earnings on Thursday before the market opens. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Rite Aid posts larger 4th-qtr loss after $1.81 billion write-down; plans to close 117 stores. After Rite Aid Corp.'s loss doubled in the the fiscal fourth quarter, the drugstore operator is planning to shut down as many as 117 stores over the next year as it tries to cut costs.