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Asian shares rose and the euro hit a seven-week high Thursday as the Federal Reserve's minutes raised the prospect for more U.S. stimulus while uncertainty continued over progress in Europe's debt crisis, including the European Central Bank's bold action.

The announcement Wednesday that the notoriously fangless British Financial Services Authority is going after the most blatant fraudsters in U.K. finance opened a window on some of the sleaziest financial hucksterism in Great Britain.

About 70,000 bank branches – including The State Bank of India, the nation’s largest public sector bank – will be idle.

Bank employees in India began a two-day strike on Wednesday to protest against proposed reforms that would ease mergers and allow more private capital, including foreign investment, in the banking sector.

Market watchers are writing the obituary for struggling big box electronics retailer Best Buy Co. (NYSE:BBY), whose share price plunged to a nearly four-year low on Tuesday, even as stakeholders waited to see if the new CEO can live up to his reputation.

Amazon Glacier is a new custom web service from the company that specializes in backing up users? files. The service was rolled out just after Wired reporter Mat Honan essentially dissolved by hackers in early August.

Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) has announced its most expensive sneaker yet, the "LeBron X," a virtual smart shoe that retails for a cool $315 per pair.

Microsoft?s Windows 8 is set for a release date this October, and as the summer comes to a close more information about the next-generation operating system has begun to leak. The newest bit of information concerns the higher-end version of the software, known as Windows 8 Pro.

Best Buy Co. (NYSE: BBY) is not having a good week.

The Instacube, which launched on Kickstarter Tuesday morning, is the solution for Instagram users that want enjoy their photos in more casual way. Now, anyone can passively view their Instagram feeds in their living rooms, on their work desks, or on their nightstands. They're party centerpieces, and a great way to immediately display photos being taken at that very party. It's the only way to share photos with a crowd of people; its viewfinder is far superior to that of an iPhone.

India's retail inflation rate dropped marginally to 9.86 percent in July from 9.93 percent recorded in June, according to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.

Unemployment is still well above 8 percent, the cost at the pump is rising and consumers are still wary and cost-conscious, but recent surveys indicate back-to-school buys and the upcoming holiday shopping season will be as good as or better than last year. Still, the theme of the season is cautious optimism.

Users of ZeekRewards.com and Zeekler.com are searching for answers -- and their lost money -- after the Securities and Exchange Commission charged the sites' owner, Paul Burks, with an alleged $600 million Ponzi scheme. "I was in shock," said a Zeek member who used the site for five months.

France, Germany, Spain, China and Japan, among other nations, have moved by leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S. in cutting-edge rail transportation (and in rail line profitability), while Amtrak struggles to survive on budgetary scraps from Congress. Many rail experts believe that only investments from the private sector and sovereign wealth funds can save Amtrak.

In the United States, Mom typically has the most say when it comes to back-to-school shopping, but pre-teens are consumers, too, and they have more money to spend on backpacks and binders than they have had in years.

Apple is expected to release the next iPhone, aka iPhone 5, September 12 and according to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, the upcoming release of the next iPhone will be the "biggest handset launch in history."

IBTimes' weekly roundup of winners and losers in the world of business.

The release date for Apple’s iPhone 5 is allegedly coming in September alongside an iPad Mini, and the Internet has not stopped buzzing with rumors and speculations about the device. This information has not been confirmed by Apple, but increasing evidence points to the following: fans could see the iPhone 5 next month.

U.S. consumer sentiment edged up this month to a three-month high as a stock market rally appears to have offset the impact of rising gasoline prices.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) admitted recent staffing changes made in its retail stores selling iPhones, iPads and Macs were "a mistake," and it is reversing the policies.

Sony Corp. is doing its best to maintain Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita performance in the lead-up to next year's anticipated launch of its next-generation console by cutting costs and introducing a wide range of new intellectual property for the rapidly aging devices.