澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-10-31

 And that super storm is taking a heavy toll¹ on business. The New York Stock Exchange remains² closed, but it is reopening tomorrow, US time.

 

It's the first time weather has shut the Exchange for two consecutive³ days since way back in 1888. The storm damage bill is expected to top 20 billion dollars. 

 

Well, it's good news for Star Wars fans. The Disney Studios has bought Lucas Films for just over 4 billion dollars. It says it plans to add three more films to the Star Wars franchise⁴. The first one will be released in 2015.

 

The Swiss bank UBS is slashing⁵ 10,000 jobs worldwide as it tries to cut cost. The bank has posted a third-quarter loss 2 billion dollars.

 

The jobs will go over the next three years and amount to 16% of its current workforce⁶. Some analysts⁷ are predicting other banks are likely to do the same.

 

All right. To the markets now.

 

Trading, of course, was suspended for a second straight day on Wall Street. Operations were open,though. In London overnight, the FTSE shed 55 points. 

 

To commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 86 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is 114 US dollars a barrel and you can pick up an ounce of gold for 1710 US dollars.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 104 US cents, 80 Euro cents and also 64 pence sterling⁸.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 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。

3 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。

4 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

5 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

6 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

7 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。

8 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。