澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-12-03

 Let’s go to finance now, and the latest national account’s figures are out today in respect to show solid growth in the September quarter. Economist¹ survey by Bloomberg predicted GDP grew 0.7% over the period up from 0.5% in the June quarter. Now that will take annual growth rate to 3.1%. Analysts² say that isn’t strong enough to make any inroads in the cutting that jobless rate. 

 

In Russia, western sanctions over Ukraine and foreign oil prices are taking a heavy toll³ on that country’s economy. The government has slashed⁴ its economic forecast for next year and warned that Russia is now heading into recession. Russia’s Economic Development Ministry⁵ estimates the economics will contract by 0.8% next year. It had previously⁶ estimated the economic will grow by 1.2% in 2015. 

 

OK, let’s go to the markets. The US energy companies are pushing Wall Street higher despite a fall in global oil prices overnight. The Dow closed more than 0.5% higher. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 had also made gains. In London, the FTSE was also up. Checking commodity prices, West Texas Crude is trading at 67 dollars a barrel. Tapis is at 74 US dollars a barrel. And gold is at 1199 US dollars an ounce. The Aussie dollar is at 84 US cents, 68 euro cents and 54 pence sterling⁷.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 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。

3 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。

4 slashed   

v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
• He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

7 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。