Business_Finance

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**FILE** Buildings and palm trees are reflected on the entrance of the Countrywide Financial Corp. office in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 25, 2008. (Associated Press)

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Trader Daniel Chiarmonte works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

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**FILE** Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks Sept. 13, 2012, during a news conference in Washington. (Associated Press)

The iPad Mini is shown in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. Apple Inc. is refusing to compete on price with its rivals in the tablet market, as the company is pricing the new, smaller iPad well above the competition. The iPad Mini, with a screen that's about two-thirds the size of the full-size model, will cost $329 and up. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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Demonstrators shout slogans against the government Oct. 23, 2012, in Madrid outside Parliament as lawmakers debate budget spending cuts for 2013. (Associated Press)

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A demonstrator places a placard on a wall Oct. 23, 2012, in Madrid during a demonstration outside Parliament as lawmakers debate budget spending cuts for 2013. (Associated Press)

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Protestors attend an assembly in Madrid on Oct. 23, 2012, during a demonstration outside Parliament as lawmakers debate budget spending cuts for 2013. (Associated Press)

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A trader sits Oct. 23, 2012, at his booth on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (Associated Press)

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Protestors holds banners reading "neoliberals are criminals" and a EU flag with the Nazi symbol on it during a demonstration Oct. 23, 2012, in Madrid outside Parliament, as lawmakers debate budget spending cuts for 2013. (Associated Press)

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Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration outside Parliament as lawmakers debate budget spending cuts for 2013 in Madrid on Oct. 23, 2012. (Associated Press)

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Specialist John O’Hara (right) works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Stocks began falling sharply at the opening of trading on Wall Street after 3M and DuPont slashed their earnings forecasts. The Dow closed down 243.36. (Associated Press)