2006年VOA标准英语-Indian Economy Posts Strong Growth

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
01 October 2006
 
India's economy has recorded faster-than-expected growth from April to June this year. The Indian economy is the world's second-fastest growing, after China's.

The Indian economy beat forecasts to grow by 8.9 percent in the first quarter of the financial year, April to June. That compared with growth of 8.4 percent for all of last year - the fastest in recent years. 
 

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram

The economy's strong performance came as a welcome surprise to the ruling United Progressive Alliance, or UPA, government. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram says this is the most rapid growth achieved in recent times.

"It is the UPA government's first quarter that has recorded the highest growth since 2000-2001," he said.

Analysts¹ say a strong showing by both the services and manufacturing sectors³ contributed to the economy's rapid expansion. The manufacturing sector² has been helped by huge government spending on the country's dilapidated infrastructure⁴, including roads, power generation and ports.

At the same time, rising middle-class incomes continue to drive demand for consumer goods.

Economists⁵ say the good results from April to June show that the Indian economy is likely to maintain a growth of eight percent or better for a fourth year in a row.

The good news on the economic front has been matched by a recent rally in the stock market, which had fallen earlier this year along with many global markets. The Mumbai Sensex index rose to 12.453 points on Friday, recovering much of the ground it lost when it dropped below 9,000 in June.

Rajesh Jain, head of stock brokerage firm Pranav Securities, says the economy's good performance and strong corporate⁶ earnings⁷ have revived interest in the Indian stock markets among both domestic and overseas investors⁸.

"If you look at the numbers for the first quarter, they have engendered⁹ tremendous expectations of results for the first half, and therefore have excited investment interest from across the globe, and also from across all classes of investors in India," said Jain.

Foreign investors pumped $2.6 billion into the Indian stock markets in the first half of this year.

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 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。

3 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 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》

6 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

7 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

8 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

9 engendered   

v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The issue engendered controversy. 这个问题引起了争论。
• The meeting engendered several quarrels. 这次会议发生了几次争吵。 来自《简明英汉词典》