This week, MarketWatch focuses on connections: the power of weak connections, a potential conflict in business connections, and our connections with our pets.

It's not what you know, but who you know, right? Or... is it how many you know? http://www.businessweek.com/management/four-ways-to-leverage-weak-connections-10182011.html

The Government Accountability Office warns about conflicts of interest at the regional Federal Reserve banks. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/19/us-usa-fed-study-idUSTRE79I3ZV20111019

As our social lives migrate online, so our need for touch offline will become more apparent. http://www.fastcompany.com/1788768/touch-social-interaction-japan-pets-cats