** An experimental vaginal gel made by Lexington's Indevus Pharmaceuticals has shown some promise in preventing infection from the AIDS virus, scientists said.

** Forrester Research of Cambridge said it will cut 50 jobs, or 5 percent of its staff, due to the "challenging" economy.

** Black Duck Software of Waltham raised $9.5 million in venture capital.

** Hub advertising firm Modernista laid off 23 staffers, Adweek reported.

** Gas prices in Massachusetts jumped for a fifth straight week, rising 3 cents to an average of $1.85 per gallon, AAA said.

** Tufts Health Plan CEO James Roosevelt Jr. was elected to Waltham-based Inverness Medical Innovations' board of directors.

** Retailers nationwide scrambled to abide by tough new lead and chemical standards for toys that go into effect today.

** U.S. home prices will reach bottom by the end of the year, concluding a slide that will have cut values 36 percent, Moody's Economy.com said.

** Hasbro said its fourth-quarter profit fell a sharper-than- expected 30 percent as the nation's second-biggest toy maker cut prices on many items during the sluggish holiday season and the stronger dollar hurt its results.

- STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

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