澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-07-15（在线收听） |
The Italian Senate has approved a $68 billion austerity budget. The four-year package aims to balance the budget by 2014. It passed by 161 votes to 135. The package now moves to the Lower House where it’s expected to be approved tomorrow. Italy is the eurozone’s third largest economy and it has one of the biggest debts at 120 per cent of GDP. Markets fear it could go the same way as Greece, Portugal and Ireland unless there are immediately(口误，应为immediate) spending cuts and tax rises. Fair Work Australia will hear a union appeal today against its decision to cut the minimum hours student employees are allowed to work. Last month, it cut the minimum shift from three hours to 90 minutes. Retailers say they will vigorously fight the appeal. They say students support the reduction because it creates more job opportunities.
To the markets now, and US stocks fell Thursday after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank may not be as willing to move on further stimulus as previously thought. The Dow is down 54. The NASDAQ has fallen 34. The S&P500 is down eight points. And in London, the FTSE is down 59.
And checking commodity prices: West Texas crude is trading at 95 US dollars and 77 cents a barrel. Tapis crude is trading at 125 US dollars and 78 cents a barrel. And gold is trading at 1,587 US dollars and 78 cents an ounce. The Australian dollar is buying 107 US cents, 75 euro cents and 66 pence sterling. |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/azabcxw/2011/154350.html |