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We here at The Bottom Line strive to offer you the latest in business and economic news, and we want to hear your thoughts and ideas, too. Now we offer a new way to let your voice be heard -- a Facebook page specifically for msnbc.com business news.

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Audi's bloody Super Bowl commercial

Am I the only one who loves getting a sneak peek at Super Bowl ads? I think not. Audi has just released a 60-second commercial it plans to air during the big game in one of the prime commercial blocks: the first break after kick-off. The ad, a clear takeoff on the "Twilight" film …

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Growing number of car buyers steer clear of imports

Detroit automakers have long abandoned their “Buy American” campaigns, but the public’s interest in bringing more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.

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Dispute over drug in feed limiting US meat exports

 By Helena BottemillerThe Food and Environment Reporting Network A drug used to keep pigs lean and boost their growth is jeopardizing the nation’s exports of what once was known as “the other white meat.”  The drug, ractopamine hydrochloride, is fed to  …

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Housing ends year on strong note, but prices still falling

The housing market ended the year on a positive note with strong sales in December, but a glut of unsold homes will likely push prices lower through much of this year, forecasters said Friday. Sales of existing homes hit an 11-month high last month and the number of properties on …

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S&P takes 'measured' approach, ratings chief says

John Chambers, chair of Standard & Poor's global sovereign ratings committee, appeared on CNBC shortly after the agency downgraded nine eurozone countries.

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Full statement from S&P on eurozone downgrades

Standard & Poor's Friday cut the long-term credit ratings of nine eurozone countries, including France, Italy and Spain. Here is the full S&P statement, courtesy of Business Insider: -------- In our view, the policy initiatives taken by European policymakers in recent wee …

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Bleakest outlook takes prize for forecasting

For msnbc.com's panel of economic forecasters, the most pessimistic were the most accurate this year as the economy failed to meet even the relatively modest expectations of most experts. David Rosenberg, the Canadian economist frequently known for his bearish views, takes the pr …

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Market caps Santa rally with strong gains

Stocks tacked on more gains in the last session before a long holiday weekend Friday, extending a solid Santa Claus rally that put the broad S&P 500 into positive territory for 2011. Investors cheered the end of a congressional standoff over payroll taxes as President Barack …

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What to shop for in the post-Christmas sales

Bargain hunters will find some great discounts in the days after Christmas. It won’t be hard to find sale signs boasting markdowns of 70 percent or more.

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This week's buzz: Taxes and holiday shopping

Here at Life Inc. headquarters, we are always amazed at our reader's endless fascination with anything related to taxes. But why should we be amazed? A quick glance at the headlines shows taxes are almost always at or near the center of the political debate.

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How is the economy doing?

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Victims in mortgage case could get thousands

Consumers who were victims of mortgage discrimination could get anywhere from $500 to thousands of dollars each as a result of a settlement announced Wednesday by the Justice Department. Under the deal,  Bank of America's Countrywide Financial unit is paying a  …

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Check out that rental car before driving off

Holiday travel is always hectic, especially when you fly to your destination and rent a car.

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Why we hate taxes (it's not what you think)

Updated at 3:15 p.m.

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Seattle becomes latest city to ban plastic bags

Seattle is the latest city to ban plastic shopping bags from grocery, convenience and other retail stores. Related: Seattle officials vote to bank plastic bags  

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Were government regulators right to block the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile?

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Comcast CEO agrees to fine for failing to report stock transaction

The CEO of Comcast Corp., Brian Roberts, has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil fine to settle charges that he failed to notify the government of his acquisition of stock, according to documents filed Friday in a Washington, D.C., federal court.Both Roberts and federal regulato …

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Bank loans to small business fall to 12-year low

New federal data show that the number of small bank loans to business has fallen to the lowest point in more than a decade, cutting the flow of money to a sector that's usually a job-creation powerhouse. "It's usually the smaller business that is more able to bounce back and tak …

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Luxury designer raises nearly $1 billion in IPO

Luxury lifestyle company Michael Kors Holdings raised nearly $1 billion in an initial public offering that was priced well above the expected price range Wednesday. In all, 47.2 million shares were sold at $20 each, generating proceeds of $944 million.

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Bankrupt airline owns fancy home as well as planes

Buried deep in American Airlines' Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is a striking asset -- a town house in one of London's most expensive residential streets that property experts say could be worth up to $30 million. The five-bedroom house in London's high-end Kensington district is …

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'War on Christmas' waning, list shows

Based on the heavy rotation of Christmas music we hear in retail outlets beginning in mid-November, we never had many concerns about the "war on Christmas" supposedly being waged in the nation's malls and chain stores. Now comes the latest evidence that Christmas is indeed& …

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Complete text of today's Fed statement

Here is the complete text of the Fed's statement on monetary policy as just posted on the Fed's website: Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in November suggests that the economy has been expanding moderately, notwithstanding some apparent slowing in  …

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Last-minute holiday gift idea? Dunder Mifflin paper

Reams of Dunder Mifflin paper, based on the fictional company from NBC's sitcom "The Office," can be found soon in a major office supply store near you. Actors Kate Flannery and Oscar Nunez from the show offer their thoughts. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of M …

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Your boss may be ruining your marriage

Your abusive boss’s blow-ups may be doing more than just making you miserable. They may also be ruining your marriage, a new study shows. We all like to think we can leave the tantrums and rude comments of bad supervisors behind when we close the office door and head home.

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