Stock-based compensation plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]

Restricted stock unit and cash-settled restricted stock unit activity for the year ended October 31, 2012 was as follows:

	Share-Settled Restricted Stock Units				Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Units
	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
	(in thousands)				(in thousands)
Nonvested at October 31, 2011	162		$	35.54	393		$	48.80
Granted	50		27.27		285		37.10
Vested	(93	)	27.58		(158	)	46.18
Forfeited	(1	)	33.97		(57	)	43.58
Nonvested at October 31, 2012	118		38.28		463		43.20

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

	2012		2011		2010
Risk-free interest rate	0.8	%	2.0	%	2.3	%
Dividend yield	—	%	—	%	—	%
Expected volatility	55.6	%	45.9	%	53.2	%
Expected life (in years)	4.8		4.8		4.7

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]

The following summarizes stock option activity for the years ended October 31:

	2012				2011				2010
	Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price
	(in thousands)				(in thousands)				(in thousands)
Options outstanding, at beginning of year	4,500		$	39.65	4,911		$	33.81	5,917		$	33.09
Granted	1,289		31.69		1,069		60.32		599		38.71
Exercised	(71	)	27.66		(1,440	)	34.87		(1,147	)	30.94
Forfeited/expired	(82	)	44.66		(40	)	47.06		(458	)	38.14
Options outstanding, at end of year	5,636		37.89		4,500		39.65		4,911		33.81
Options exercisable, at end of year	3,672		36.96		3,064		36.07		3,767		34.67

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at October 31, 2012:

	Options Outstanding
	Number Outstanding	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Range of Exercise Prices:	(in thousands)	(in years)			(in millions)
$ 21.22 - $ 31.81	2,059	3.5	$	24.53	$	—
$ 32.18 - $ 40.92	1,773	4.3	38.13		—
$ 42.48 - $ 69.91	1,804	2.9	52.91		—

The following table summarizes information about stock options exercisable at October 31, 2012:

	Options Exercisable
	Number Outstanding	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Range of Exercise Prices:	(in thousands)	(in years)			(in millions)
$ 21.22 - $ 31.81	1,558	3.1	$	25.02	$	—
$ 32.18 - $ 40.92	863	2.7	39.34		—
$ 42.48 - $ 69.91	1,251	2.0	50.20		—