Business_Finance

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** FILE ** In this Nov. 25, 2011, file photo, shoppers scramble for door buster deals at Target, in Bowling Green, Ky. U.S. consumers spent at a lackluster rate in November as their incomes barely grew, suggesting that U.S. households may struggle to sustain their spending into 2012. (AP Photo/Daily News, Joe Imel, File)

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District Mayor Vincent C. Gray said "opinions always matter" and "we take them seriously," but he is proud of accomplishments such as the fiscal year 2012 budget and sustainability efforts that will stretch into the new year. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Justice Department said it will allow a merger between the New York Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse AG that would create the world's largest stock exchange operator, pending the sale of a third, smaller American stock exchange operator. (The Associated Press)

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Financial whiz Ric Edelman and BET founder and business man Robert Johnson talk up "business solutions to social problems." (image from 3 Roads Communications)

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Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow celebrates the first touchdown in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Steve Nehf)

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John Engler, president of the Business Roundtable, speaks with editors and reporters of The Washington Times in December. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times) ** FILE **

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Traders James Lodewick (left) and James Riley (center) work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

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Kim Jong-un, third son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, is believed to have the mannerisms, personality and ideology of his mercurial father. (Xinhua News Agency via Associated Press)

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Republican Rep. Darrell E. Issa has asked the House ethics panel to investigate four lawmakers in connection with VIP discounted loans from now-defunct Countrywide Financial Corp. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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In this Dec. 15, 2011 photo, Michael Reed fills his gas tank at a station in Charlotte, N.C. The retail price of gasoline averaged more than $3.50 per gallon for the year, a record. Drivers cut back where they could, driving less and switching to more fuel efficient cars. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and his investment company, Kingdom Holding Co., said Monday they are investing a combined $300 million into Twitter. (Kingdom Holding Co.)

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Commuters ride a crowded bus in July. Lima has a new rapid transit bus system powered by natural gas, but an older fleet of buses spewing air pollution hasn't gone out of service yet. Air pollution in the capital exceeds World Health Organization limits ninefold. (Associated Press)