Jewelry retailer Zale posted a larger-than-expected loss for its fiscal first quarter. It reported a net loss of $28 million, or 88 cents per share, compared with a loss of $32 million, or 99 cents, a year earlier. The company, which runs Zales stores and Piercing Pagoda kiosks, said comparable store sales were up 3.9 percent in the quarter, compared with an increase of 5.8 percent last year.