U.S. factory orders up

Orders to U.S. factories rebounded in September, rising by 0.5 percent in another signal pointing to an economic resurgence.

That marked a turnaround from the 0.3 percent dip reported for August, according to revised figures released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. That decline for August turned out to be not as deep as the 0.8 percent drop the government previously reported.

September’s performance was slightly weaker than the 0.6 percent increase economists were forecasting. Gains were led by big-ticket goods, including cars, machinery and furniture.

In a more forward-looking report, manufacturing in October posted its highest level of activity in nearly four years, the Institute for Supply Management said this week.

SEC

Food companies targeted in Fleming investigation

Federal regulators have told Kraft Foods Inc. and Dean Foods Co. that they were considering legal action against the companies, claiming that they helped a grocery distributor that filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year speed up the booking of revenue.

Kraft, based in Northfield, Ill., said the SEC notice alleged that Kraft employees signed documents that helped The Fleming Cos. speed up the booking of revenue. Fleming had previously disclosed it was under SEC investigation.

Publishing

Hallmark continues with magazine idea

Hallmark Cards Inc. has joined with Time Inc. to publish a holiday issue of its test consumer magazine, “Hallmark,” with plans to launch the publication next year.

The magazine, which will be on newsstands starting this week, is the second issue of “Hallmark.”

Company spokeswoman Kristi Ernsting said “Hallmark” planned to publish two more test issues, probably in April and August, before a formal launch of the magazine.

Hallmark Cards, which operates a plant in Lawrence, has increased the number of copies printed for the holiday edition to 380,000 from the 100,000 printed for its first edition, which was published earlier this year.