Business_Finance

20120126-195211-pic-63450565.jpg

Iran is in a currency crisis largely credited to Western sanctions. Its central bank announced Thursday an 8.5 percent devaluation of the currency, and Wednesday the president agreed to a dramatic interest rate increase.

20120126-181453-pic-120386563.jpg

The Shakespeare Theatre Company runs a summer camp that teaches acting skills and culminates in a performance of Shakespearean scenes onstage. (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

President Obama Las V_Live.jpg

President Obama turns to wave Jan. 26, 2012, as he boards Air Force One departing Las Vegas after spending the night. He spoke about energy innovations and promoted alternative fuels that day at a United Parcel Service hub in Las Vegas (Associated Press)

GAMING_20120126_001A.JPG

Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi told the D.C. Council Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, that no laws were broken during the RFP process to get bids for online gaming. The council held a public oversight hearing on the matter of i-Gaming on Thursday. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

WALLSTREET.jpg

In this Jan. 25, 2012, photo, traders Thomas Kay, left, Marshall Ryan, center, and Robert McQuade work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets rose on Thursday, Jan. 26, after the U.S. Federal Reserve pledged to keep interest rates low until late 2014 to nurture the country's stubbornly slow economic recovery. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

20120126-095852-pic-29535641.jpg

Courtesy of Sherry Petersik Thrift stores and consignment shops can offer low-cost treasures for homeowners looking to brighten up their homes. Sherry Petersik, who writes the YoungHouseLove.com blog with her husband, John, said they made this desk out of second-hand cabinets purchased at the Habitat for Humanity Restore for $1 each.

Bobcats Wizards Baske_Hasc.jpg

Washington Wizards forward Andray Blatche drives against Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas during the first quarter in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

20120125-214843-pic-334061240.jpg

Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, will seek a fourth term. "I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing a strong, powerful voice to Washington, D.C.," she said Wednesday, less than a month after ending her presidential bid. (Associated Press)

20120125-202308-pic-751135127.jpg

Boeing hopes to ramp up production of its 787 Dreamliner model this year. The Chicago-based company posted its best year ever in 2011. (Associated Press)

20120125-181946-pic-687361639.jpg

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke takes part in a news conference at the William McChesney Martin Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, following the January Federal Open Market Committee meeting. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Switzerland Davos For_Lea.jpg

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott)

DAVOS.jpg

Brian T. Moynihan, chief executive officer of the Bank of America, speaks during a panel session on the first day of the 42nd annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott)

20120124-210817-pic-835411819.jpg

"Look, in my lifetime the single thing that hurt people most was the financial crisis," Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray tells the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "I think we can help head that off in the future." (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

20120124-205109-pic-156701786.jpg

ON RECORD: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski attended a meeting of interest to investigators of the bankrupt Open Range, which had been awarded a federal loan. (Associated Press)

20120123-210559-pic-500018046.jpg

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential hopeful, holds a discussion on housing and foreclosure in Tampa, Fla., on Monday. Mr. Romney slammed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for his work with Freddie Mac and called on him to release records from an ethics investigation. (Associated Press)

20120123-185444-pic-443068591.jpg

In this May 16, 2011 photo, earth-moving machinery builds up a berm around a Chesapeake Energy storage tank, near Dilley, Texas. The Oklahoma City-based company has signed a deal with a Chinese company giving them a 33 percent stake in the 600,000 acres Chesapeake has leased to extract oil and gas from Texasí tightly locked Eagle Ford shale formation. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Internet Piracy Indic_Live.jpg

Megaupload.com founder, former CEO and current chief innovation officer of Megaupload.com Kim Dotcom (also known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor) appears Jan. 20, 2012, in North Shore District Court in Auckland, New Zealand. (Associated Press)

Kirk_Live.jpg

**FILE** Sen. Mark Kirk, Illinois Republican, talks to the media Dec. 16, 2010, on Capitol Hill. (Associated Press)

RIM CEOs Resign_Live.jpg

This undated photo provided by Research in Motion shows Thorsten Heins, who on Jan. 22, 2012, was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Research In Motion. Heins succeeds co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, who announced they are stepping down. (Associated Press/Research In Motion via The Canadian Press)