Greece, South Korea Ban Stock Short-Sells

 　　As global stock markets have plummeted¹ in the last few days, both Greece and South Korea have banned the short-selling of securities - the attempt by some investors³ to make money by betting that their holdings will decrease in value.

　　Monday, Greece ordered a halt in the short selling of stocks, and South Korea did the same on Tuesday. In both countries, stock indexes fell sharply in the aftermath of Standard & Poor's downgrading of the U.S. government's credit rating and cost investors billions of dollars in losses.

　　That led stock exchange officials in Athens and Seoul to impose the short-selling ban in an attempt to curb⁴ speculation⁵ by investors that their markets would fall even further.

　　In short-selling, the stock seller does not actually own shares of a company. But the seller borrows the shares, likely from an investment broker⁶, and sells them, on the expectation that their value will fall. At that point, the investor² can buy them back at a lower price and keep the difference as profit. If the shares rise in value, the investor would lose money.

　　Some financial analysts⁷ say the bans may not have the desired effect of ending the stock sell-off. But one South Korean market official said short-selling "triggered market instability." One Greek official said the practice was "really having an effect" on the Athens market as it fell to its lowest point in 14 years.

　　The Greek ban on short-selling extends to October 7, although could be lifted sooner. South Korea imposed a three-month ban.

1 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

5 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

6 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。