澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-07-16

 Eight out of 90 European banks have failed stress tests designed to ensure they can withstand another financial crisis. The European Banking¹ Authority carried out the health check and says another 16 banks are in a dangerous zone. Five Spanish banks failed as well as one in Austria and two in Greece.

 

Westpac is predicting the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates by 100 basis points over the next 12 months. Westpac says that the debt crisis in Europe and the US as well as increasing consumer caution at home will put the brakes on Australia's economic growth.

 

BHP Billiton has launched a $15 billion takeover of US gas producer Petrohawk Energy. BHP is offering a 65 per cent premium² to Petrohawk's last traded price. The miners scrapped³ a $39 billion offer for Canadian fertilizer maker⁴ Potash last November after running into regulatory obstacles.

 

And to the market numbers, local shares have finished lower as nervousness over that BHP Billiton takeover bid weighed down the market. The All Ordinaries index and the ASX 200 shed just under 0.5 per cent by the close. And in the US, markets are stronger. The Dow Jones is up 43 points. The Australian dollar is currently hovering⁵ around 106 US cents.

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

3 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

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 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。