澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-12-07

 US Treasury¹ Secretary Timothy Geithner is urging European leaders to implement² economic reforms at this week's EU summit. In a sign of just how bad the situation is in Europe, the ratings agency Standard & Poor's has said it's reviewing almost every eurozone country's credit ratings.

 

Speaking in Germany ahead of that summit, Timothy Geithner said change will take time, both in the United States and also on the continent.

 

"I am very encouraged by the developments in Europe over the past few weeks, including the reform commitments made by the new governments of Italy and Spain and Greece, and the new steps approved this week about progress towards a ‘fiscal compact’ for the eurozone. This, of course, will take time. It will take a very substantial commitment and a sustained commitment of political will."

 

Timothy Geithner there

 

Let's go to the markets.

 

The Dow Jones has closed 52 points higher on Wall Street. The NASDAQ lost six. The S&P 500 was up four points on close. And in London the FTSE closed one point higher.

 

Checking commodity prices. West Texas Crude is trading at 100 US dollars and 91 cents a barrel. Tapis crude’s at 117 US dollars and 61 cents a barrel. And gold’s at $1,723 US dollars and 70 cents an ounce. The Australian dollar is buying a dollar and two US cents, 76 euro cents and 65 pence sterling³.

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。