Business_Finance

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes Mario Draghi, at the time a candidate to head the European Central Bank, to the chancellery in Berlin in June 2011. Much of the credit for the easing of Europe’s financial crisis has been given to Mr. Draghi’s leadership. For her part, Mrs. Merkel has backed the ECB’s bond-buying plan, made conciliatory statements toward Greece and spoken forcefully about keeping the eurozone together. (Associated Press)

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio calls on a reporter during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Boehner said any deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff should include lower tax rates, eliminating special interest loopholes and revising the tax code. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio calls on a reporter during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Boehner said any deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff should include lower tax rates, eliminating special interest loopholes and revising the tax code. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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House Speaker John Boehner delivers a statement to the media Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 on the fiscal cliff and the need for both parties to find common ground and take steps together to help our economy grow and create jobs, which he says is critical to solving the national debt. "Mr. President, this is your time," Boehner said. "We want you to lead. Not as a Liberal or a Conservative, but as an American." (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (center) is joined by Anh Hong Do (left) and Kim-Ha Ly (right) as he arrives to meet customers and business owners at the Eden Center in Falls Church, Va., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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A New York City Police Department officer manages the line of cars waiting for gasoline on Nov. 9, 2012. Fuel shortages and distribution delays that occurred after Superstorm Sandy and a nor'easter hit the region led to gas hoarding, prompting New York City and Long Island to initiate an even-odd gas rationing plan. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Yayoflautas occupy the Barcelona headquarters of the Catalan private healthcare provider's association on Dec. 22, 2011, in protest against cuts in health spending. (Oscar Martinez/Special to The Washington Times)

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**FILE** Yayoflautas occupy the Barcelona headquarters of the Catalan private healthcare provider's association in protest against cuts in health spending on Dec. 22, 2011. (Oscar Martinez/Special to The Washington Times)

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Yayoflautas occupied the headquarters of the Catalan privatehealth care provider’s association in Barcelona, proving that they won’t take spending cuts lying down. (Oscar Martinez/Special to The Washington Times)

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Groupon Inc., the pioneering online deals service, failed to show investors on Thursday that its business is growing as quickly as they would like, as it was hurt by what it called “continued challenges” from economic weakness in Europe. (Associated Press)

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Speaker of the House John Boehner, Ohio Republican, talks Nov. 7, 2012, at the Capitol in Washington about the elections and the unfinished business of Congress. (Associated Press)