澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-01-08

 The US unemployment dropped to 1.5-year low of 9.4 per cent in December. New figures show the US economy generated a disappointing 103,000 new jobs. The Federal Reserve chairman remains¹ cautiously upbeat about the country's economic recovery. Ben Bernanke cited improvements in consumer spending and a drop in jobless claims as hopeful signs that a fragile recovery was perking² up.

 

Well, back home, the market's been focused on Queensland's flooding all week with investors³ concerned about the cost to the economy. Some market economists⁴ say the disaster will wipe about $6 billion of the nation's GDP. The material sector⁵ including the minors⁶ has been the hardest-hit. Taking a look at the markets now and as a result, the share market finished the week on a negative note - both the All Ords and the ASX200 closed 0.4 per cent lower on Friday. US stocks rallied after the US jobs data was released, but the Dow Jones is yet to make up for earlier losses.

 

And in Europe, the main stock markets there fell on Friday with investors cautious ahead of eagerly-awaited US unemployment figures. London's FTSE slid half a per cent. Elsewhere in the region, markets mixed, the Nikkei gained 11 points. And checking the currencies there, the Australian dollar is fairly flat against the greenback.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 perking   

（使）活跃( perk的现在分词 )； （使）增值； 使更有趣

参考例句：

• The weather seems to be perking up. 天气似乎要变好。
• She is perking herself at mirror. 她正对镜化妆。

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 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》

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》