voa标准英语2008年-Global Markets Continue to Slide as Recession F

Following big losses in Asia, Europe is faring little better on equity¹ markets. Persistent² recession fears and new layoff³ announcements are contributing to the gloom as VOA's Tom Rivers reports from London.

Current bad economic news seems to be echoing around the world one time zone at a time.

At issue, serious concerns that the world is entering what may be a protracted⁴ downturn that few will be immune from.

With the Dow index dropping five percent in New York on Wednesday to below the psychologically important 8,000 level, Asian markets picked up on that gloom and "down" was the byword there.
　

Passers-by watch the electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Japan, 20 Nov 2008

In Tokyo, the Nikkei lost nearly seven percent as Japanese October exports took a 7.7 percent drop.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index closed more than four percent down.

In Europe, that same sentiment prevails.

Stockbroker⁵ Richard Hunter, from London's Hargreaves-Lansdown, says the latest Federal Reserve report forecasting lower U.S. economic growth next year coupled with the major money problems facing the big three American automakers is being felt around the world.

"That then fed into Asia because of course a lot of Asian economies are dependent on the U.S. in terms of their own exports, needless to say in the U.K. and indeed in Europe this morning that fed through once more," he said. "A lot of Footsie [Financial Times]-100 companies for example either have dollar-denominated earnings⁷ or indeed that are dollar-facing."

Hunter says the current mood is that new lows will continue to be probed.

"It is yet another example of sellers pushing against an open door and in terms of investors⁸ being risk-averse, they are choosing to go towards things like bonds and perhaps gold again as opposed to equities," he said.

In addition to the dropping stock indexes, rising unemployment is rearing its head in various countries.

In Japan, Isuzu Motors says 1,400 contract workers will be let go.

European carmaker Peugeot-Citroen has announced that 2,700 workers will be laid off.

And in Britain, aircraft engine maker⁶ Rolls-Royce says it plans to cut 2,000 jobs next year as worldwide demand for its products continues to ebb⁹ in this time of global economic downturn.

　

1 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

2 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

3 layoff   

n.临时解雇，操作停止，活动停止期间，失业期

参考例句：

• Finally, prepare an explanation about what led to your layoff.最后，要准备好一套说辞来解释你被解雇的原因。
• Workers were re-employed after the layoff.在暂时解雇不久后工人们又被再度雇用了。

4 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 stockbroker   

n.股票（或证券），经纪人（或机构）

参考例句：

• The main business of stockbroker is to help clients buy and sell shares.股票经纪人的主要业务是帮客户买卖股票。
• My stockbroker manages my portfolio for me.我的证券经纪人替我管理投资组合。

6 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

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 ebb   

vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态

参考例句：

• The flood and ebb tides alternates with each other.涨潮和落潮交替更迭。
• They swam till the tide began to ebb.他们一直游到开始退潮。