英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-02-19

 BHP has surprised the markets, almost doubling its half-year profit. Net profit for six months to December reached nine billion dollars. That's an 83 percent jump on the previous period.

 

Now it's good news for the company's Chief Executive Andrew Mackenzie, who puts the results down to some cost cuts, but also a lifting productivity. 

 

“Well, it's more than just cost-cutting. I mean we both reducing the cost of doing we always do and we are also trying to produce a lot more for existing costs. And when we talk about the broader cost, we say by the end of this financial year in June, we'll then by it saving about 5.5 billion. It's a mixture of the two. Ah, you know, I mean, basic...basically we just make it the prime focus of the company.”

 

Andrew Mackenzie there. 

 

Now a short time ago, the Dow was down slightly. The Nasdaq is up more than half a percent. S&P 500's also risen. In London overnight, the FTSE closed up almost one percent.

 

And looking at commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 103 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is at 116 US dollars a barrel. And gold is trading at 1322 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 90 US cents, 66 Euro cents and 54 pence sterling¹.

1 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。