Lunt Silversmiths in Greenfield to end production, sell brand, turn to design

GREENFIELD - After 107 years as a Greenfield manufacturer, Lunt Silversmiths agreed Wednesday to become strictly a design and product development business, its president, James Lunt, announced Wednesday.

Foreclosures in Massachusetts up in October

BOSTON (AP) - Foreclosures in Massachusetts soared nearly 30 percent in October compared to the previous month, but are down slightly when compared to the same month last year.

State's monthly unemployment rate drops for first time in more than two years

BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts' monthly unemployment rate has fallen for the first time in nearly 2½ years and just one month after hitting the highest level since 1976.

Northampton lists livestock auction prices

The Northampton Coop Auction Inc. lists Tuesday prices:

Calves: 0-60 lbs. $5; 61-75 lbs., $5 to $10; 76-90 lbs., $5 to $25; 91-105 lbs., $5 to $20; 106 & up lbs. $15 to $29; farm calves, $30 to $120; start calves $60; feeders $35 to $53; veal $25.50 to $35; heifers $21.50 to $42; bulls $30.50 to $74.

Stocks edge up

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks finished an erratic session mixed Tuesday as higher commodity prices lifted energy and materials shares.

The meager advances were enough to push stocks to new 13-month highs, though more shares fell than rose at the New York Stock Exchange. The market had zigzagged for much of the day on mixed news from retailers and on industrial production.

Bernanke: Fed will monitor sliding dollar

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday said the central bank will monitor the sliding U.S. dollar but pledged anew to keep interest rates at record lows to nurture the economic recovery.

In remarks to the Economic Club of New York, Bernanke engaged in a delicate dance. He tried to bolster confidence in the dollar without taking any real action.

October retail sales give stocks a boost

NEW YORK - Investors kept the stock market's upward momentum going Monday, sending shares sharply higher as the dollar extended its slide and after retail sales rebounded more than expected in October.