BUSINESS MEMO: MACHINE ORDERS ON THE RISE

Orders for American-made machine tools rose in December, helping make 1995 the industry's best year since 1979, an industry trade group says.

December orders were $377.5 million, an increase of 16.8 percent from November, but down 31.9 percent compared with December 1994, the Association for Manufacturing Technology said.

For 1995, U.S. machine tool orders were $4.85 billion, up 3.6 percent from 1994's $4.69 billion and the best since 1979's $5.62 billion.

Orders of machine tools -- used to cut and shape metal for products ranging from toasters to tractors -- are an indication of whether manufacturers are confident enough about demand to refurbish and expand their factories.