澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2009-10-03

The latest economic data shows unemployment in the US is worse than expected. The jobless rate surged to 9.8 percent last month. A total of 263,000 jobs were lost, much more than the 175,000 analysts¹ had expected. Economists² say the figures could hurt the chances of a sustainable recovery from recession. The market didn't react well to the news. But it was offset³ slightly by gains in tech stocks. The figures also spooked Europe's markets. London's FTSE lost more than one percent.

Paper maker⁴ Norske Skog has announced it's cutting 50 jobs from its southern Tasmanian factory. The move comes three months after the plant had to partially⁵ stop production due to an over-supply of paper. The company says major newspapers are buying less news print because of the global downturn.

And Qantas which claims to serve only Australian produce is under fire for serving Danish butter. Australian dairy farmers have attacked the airline for the move as they struggle to cope with lower milk prices and a slump⁶ in demand. Farmers in Tasmania claim their industry is close to collapse⁷ after excessive rain and recent power cuts.

On the local market, stocks closed at a two-week low. At the start of the long weekend, the dollar was down on profit taking buying 86.5 US cents.

That's ABC Business News.

1 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。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

4 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

5 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

6 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

7 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。