RETAILING

Wal-Mart, Nordstrom Earnings Up: The nation’s largest retailer said second-quarter earnings rose 18% while Nordstrom Inc., the upscale department store chain, said its second-quarter earnings rose 2.4% due to lower costs. Wal-Mart said earnings for the quarter ended July 31 totaled $495.9 million, or 22 cents a share, compared to $420.4 million, or 18 cents a share, during the same 1992 period. Nordstrom said net income for the 1993 second quarter increased to $42.7 million, or 52 cents a share, beating estimates, from $41.7 million, or 51 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Analysts expected Nordstrom to earn 44 cents a share.