澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-08-14

 To finance. And the US government is moving to block a merger¹ between two of the countries’ biggest airlines. American Airlines and US Airways² want to join forces to create the world’s biggest airline.

 

It would also have saved the American Airlines which has been in bankruptcy³ protection since 2011. The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit⁴ in the Federal Court to quash the proposed 11-billion-dollar deal.

 

China is set to overtake the United States as the world’s largest net oil importer. From October, China’s net oil imports will exceed the United States. That change is likely to become permanent from next year.

 

The latest figures from America show increased domestic oil production and weakening demand in the US is causing the shift. China imported just over 26 million tons of crude oil last month.

 

To the markets.

 

The Wall Street rose on the back of some strong US retail⁵ sales and business confidence data, while the FTSE rose just over half of a percent.

 

Looking at commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 107 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is trading at 117 US dollars a barrel. And gold is worth 1321 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 91 US cents, 69 Euro cents and 59 pence sterling⁶.

1 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

2 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

3 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

4 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。