Business Channel 2007-04-22&24（在线收听） |
| If you want one example why the dollar is so weak, look no further than housing. Home prices in Britain continue to soar despite many predictions that market would cool, so house price inflation is one big reason. The Bank of England is expected to raise rates once again. The opposite is true in the United States. A weak housing market may mean the Federal Reserve’s next move is a cut in rates. So big investors are moving their money where they can get higher returns. It's now that we are seeing this big disparity between the UK economy which looks quite robust, and the US economy which appears to be faltering that we are seeing this play-outs on the currency markets. That's the why, but now what’s the effects? Well, if you live in Europe, this is the cheapest time in nearly 15 years to head to the USA. Virgin Atlantic says its Easter bookings to the US were up 15% over last year. And since the dollar hitting 2 to 1 should sell even more tickets, now that people have become aware of the bargain. But of course it’s now even more expensive for Americans to leave home. We have been out too very many times in most people’s life time. So, there will be people taking advantage of that. And by contrast, there, there is absolutely no doubt that at this kind of exchange rate US tourists find London pretty prohibitively expensive. The pain is reversed for companies. American firms have found it cheaper to sell their goods overseas. Coca Cola on Tuesday credited favorable currency impacts as one reason it saw a 24% jump in the value of sales in Europe and Asia in the first quarter, but European companies have spent the last few years finding ways to counter this strong pound on euro as they try to sell goods in the US. Either way analysts say companies plan for currency moves, so stock markets aren't impacted as much as people's travel plans. Jim Boulden, CNN, London. NOTES: 1. falter to become weaker and unable to continue in an effective way 2. play-out an idea, situation etc that is played out is finished or no longer has influence |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/shangyebaodao/2007/41783.html |