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Pedestrians are reflected in the glass of a window showing share prices at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Dec. 17. At least five business stories had major impacts in 2015. They involved everything from crashing oil prices to merging beer companies.

Arguably, These Are The 5 Business Stories That Shaped 2015

Compared with the Great Recession years, 2015 was a fairly tame time. Still, at least five stories had major impacts. They involved everything from crashing oil prices to merging beer companies.

Tony de Brum, the foreign minister of the Marshall Islands, relaxes at the Majuro Atoll last month. Climate change poses an existential threat to places like the Marshall Islands, which rise no higher than 6 feet above sea level in most places. De Brum is representing the Marshall Islands at the climate talks in Paris.

For The Marshall Islands, The Climate Goal Is '1.5 To Stay Alive'

The islands have more to lose than most any country at the Paris climate summit. Some territory is already disappearing under rising seas. The foreign minister explains the predicament.

Mortgage rates on 30-year, fixed-rate loans rose above 5% this week. That's pushing the cost of buying a home higher and making homeownership unaffordable for more people.

Mortgage rates just hit 5%. Here's how much more expensive that makes home ownership

Higher mortgage rates and home prices have pushed the monthly payment to buy the median-priced home in the U.S. up more than 50% since the start of last year. Many first-time buyers can't afford it.

North Canton Hash

Explore art and recipes as David Gentilini shares the Schumacher Gallery's diverse collection.

The National Debt Clock, a billboard-size digital display showing the increasing U.S. debt, is seen in New York City on Monday. Congress passed a bill Tuesday that would raise the nation's debt limit.

Deal Averts Default, But Doesn't Fix Debt Problems

America hasn't stopped borrowing, one economist says; it has just vowed to borrow less dramatically. "It certainly doesn't mean we've cut up our credit card," she says.