Today Framingham

Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer Today Framingham-based Staples has approved the repurchase of $1.5 billion in stock and declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10 cents per share of common stock. The office supply store chain said it will repurchase shares in both the open market and privately negotiated transactions. The dividend, meanwhile, will be paid Oct. 13 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 23.

Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer Today Framingham-based discount retailer The TJX Cos. Inc. reports that its sales rose 7 percent during the five-week period ended July 4, compared with the same period last year. The company said its sales for the five weeks were $2 billion. Consolidated comparable store sales rose 3 percent. TJX raised its outlook on earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 to between $.70 and $.73, up from $.61 last year. It also raised its earnings-per-share estimate for the full year to between $3.24 and $3.33, up from $2.84 in fiscal 2010. TJX,