英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-02-02

 And when the markets in Europe closed just a couple of hours ago, London's FTSE 100 was down 28 points. The Dax and Euro also finished lower. In the US, trading comes to a close shortly, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 are both tracking lower.

 

And the Australian dollar is worth around 87.5 US cents. It'll also buy you around 53 British pence and one dollar eight New Zealand.

 

The corporate¹ regulator says it will not pursue two David Jones directors who increased their shareholdings in the company the day after Myer proposed a merger². Myer made a confidential³ merger proposal in late October last year, but it was rejected by the DJ's board a month later. The directors had been under investigation⁴ by corporate regulator because the trades came two days before a company sale report. But the Australian Securities and Investments Commission says it's investigated the matter and considered all relevant information including the conditional⁵ proposal and they decided⁶ to take no further action. 

 

Official figures show the US economy grew at the fastest pace in three years. America's economy grew at an annual rate of just over three percent. Strong consumer spending and robust⁷ exports drove growth over the period. Many economists⁸ are predicting 2014 will produce the strongest growth since the end of the US recession in 2009.

1 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。

2 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

3 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

8 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》