News in brief

Walmart said in talks with India's Flipkart

Walmart Inc. is in talks to acquire more than a 40 percent stake in Indian e-commerce company Flipkart Ltd., according to a Reuters report.

The news outlet, citing two sources familiar with the discussions, said Walmart is looking at buying new and existing shares in Flipkart. An agreement would give the Bentonville retailer access to India's e-commerce and help both companies compete with Amazon.com in one of the world's most populated nations.

Previously, Amazon pledged to invest $5 billion in its India e-commerce operations.

Walmart did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

The retailer entered India about 10 years ago but has not been able to make significant inroads largely because of government restrictions on foreign companies. Walmart operates about 20 wholesale stores in India.

An investment in Flipkart would continue Walmart's e-commerce push, which began with the $3.3 billion acquisition of Jet.com in 2016, and help forge another international partnership.

Flipkart controls nearly 40 percent of India's online retail, according to estimates from research firm Forrester.

-- Robbie Neiswanger

Business delegation to visit Netherlands

An Arkansas delegation is bound for the Netherlands in April, and Arkansas companies interested in joining are encouraged to contact the World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers.

The delegation will meet with Dutch business leaders in water technology; healthy aging; food and agriculture; real estate development; and sustainable and efficient energy segments. The delegation will visit Leeuwarden and Amsterdam in the Netherlands from April 22 through April 27.

Those interested in the trip can contact Denise Thomas, director of Africa and Middle East trade, or Boon Tan, senior director of global trade strategy at the World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers.

-- John Magsam

Arkansas Index rises 2.72, ends at 419.17

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, climbed 2.72 to 419.17 Friday.

Twelve stocks advanced, five declined, and one was unchanged.

USA Truck jumped 3.6 percent in heavy trading. Murphy Oil fell 1 percent on low volume.

Total volume for the index on Friday was 28.8 million shares. The average volume for the week was 23.1 million shares.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business on 02/17/2018

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