Business_Finance

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke offers a defense Monday of the Fed’s policies to stimulate the weak economy, while cautioning Congress to respect its private discussions. Mr. Bernanke says the Fed needs to drive down borrowing rates because the economy isn’t growing fast enough to reduce unemployment. The unemployment rate is 8.1 percent. (Associated Press)

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A customer departs grocery store Trader Joe's in Los Angeles on Feb. 11, 2008. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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**FILE** People walk in a street market looking for bargains beneath the offices of Spain's troubled Bankia bank in Madrid on Sept. 16, 2012. (Associated Press)

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This fracking site in Washington, Pa., is one of many in the country shaking up world energy markets as the U.S. moves toward no longer needing to import natural gas. The stakes are particularly large in Russia. “This is where everything is being turned on its head,” said Fiona Hill, an expert on Russia at the Brookings Institution. (Associated Press)