VOA标准英语10月-World Stock Markets Again Fall Sharply as Federal

New York financial markets declined again Tuesday, while Europe also closed lower as the global credit squeeze shows no sign of easing. VOA's Barry Wood has more.
　

Wall Street traders, 07 Oct 2008

The Dow Jones Industrials lost 508 points to 9,447. The technology heavy Nasdaq market lost over four percent to close at a five-year low. Analysts¹ say the markets continuing decline is evidence of market skepticism that the Bush administration's $700-billion financial rescue measure will have the desired effect.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke² to a conference (in Washington) and for the first time suggested that the central bank may consider a further interest rate cut to boost economic growth.

"In light of these [recent] developments the Federal Reserve will have to consider whether the current stance on policy is appropriate," said Bernanke.
　

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, seen on a television screen on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor, during his luncheon3 address to the National Association for Business Economics, 7 Oct. 2008

Some analysts expect coordinated⁴ action by central banks in Europe, America and Japan to cut rates to deal with the global credit squeeze. Central bank chiefs and finance ministers from the seven biggest financial powers gather in Washington on Friday for a previously⁵ scheduled meeting. In his address to the Washington conference, Bernanke said economic growth is slowing as a result of credit crisis.

"Overall, the combination of incoming data and recent financial developments suggest that the outlook for economic growth has worsened and that the downside risks to growth have increased," he said.

The US and several European stock markets have declined for five consecutive⁶ trading sessions. Overnight lending between banks remains⁷ largely frozen and bank shares were big losers Tuesday in both Europe and North America.

Oil gained $2 and gold was up $16. The dollar remained strong but closed off its session highs.

Australia late Tuesday cut its short-term interest rate by a full percentage point, a move likely to be followed by other Asian economies.

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 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 luncheon   

n.午宴，午餐，便宴

参考例句：

• We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
• I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

4 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

6 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。