This month in history:

Nov. 4, 1890 In London, the first electrified underground railway system was opened.

Nov. 15, 1867 The first stock debuted on the New York Stock Exchange.

Nov. 17, 1993 NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The price of oil sets a new record of $98.62 a barrel as the dollar weakened and global demand grew, prompting fear of a new age of "stagflation" comparable to that experienced in the 1970s.

Hollywood writers went on strike over not receiving a share of Internet revenue for their work, prompting fear of having to watch reruns of "Ugly Betty."

In a depressing sign of the times, Rite Aid stores in the West start selling paternity test kits. The test kits come from a company called Sorenson Genomics, which uses the slogan: "For questions only DNA can answer."

Levitt and Sons becomes the largest homebuilder in the country to declare bankruptcy in the wake of a continued slump in new home sales.