Business_Finance

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Malaysia was among the countries represented at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement talks this month in San Diego. If approved, the agreement would be a rare accomplishment on the trade front for President Obama. (Associated Press)

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke appears before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, to deliver his twice-yearly report to Congress on the state of the economy. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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This product image provided by Vivus Pharmaceuticals Inc. shows bottles of Qsymia, the company's anti-obesity drug. (Associated Press/Vivus Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

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Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul A. Volcker (left) and former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s State Budget Crisis Task Force’s report says states’ financial problems aren’t just a result of the recession and slow recovery, but have built up over years. As an example, state and local government pension plans are at least $1 trillion short of what they need to pay for their pension promises. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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“The 4% Solution: Unleashing the Economic Growth America Needs” is the first book released by The Bush Institute. (The Bush Institute)

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Ali Ata, ex-director of the Illinois Finance Authority, leaves federal court in Chicago after being sentenced to four years’ probation. (Associated Press)

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Elvis Presley gave his custom Smith & Wesson .357 to Vice President Spiro Agnew, who later returned it. The revolver is now up for auction with a $275,000 starting bid. (Image from Moments in Time Memorabilia)

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A woman walks in front of the HSBC bank headquarters in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 17, 2012. The chief compliance officer of Britain's HSBC Tuesday said he was stepping down from that position after an investigation found that lax controls at the international bank allowed Mexican drug cartels to launder billions of dollars through its U.S. operation and other illicit transactions. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)