MOORESVILLE, NC - Home improvement center Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) closed 10 stores Sunday night, and plans to close 10 more for a total of 20 under-performing stores in 15 states.

 Ten locations closed at the end of business October 16. The remaining 10 locations will close within a month, following an inventory sell-through. Lowe's home improvement stores scheduled for closing are listed here>>

 Lowe's says it will curtail new store opening scaling back from 30 per year to open 10 to 15 stores per year in North America from 2012 forward. Lowe's says it is on track to open approximately 25 home improvement and remodeling stores in 2011, as planned.