澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2015-02-04

 The big four banks are yet to move after the official interest rate was cut yesterday for the first time in eighteen months. The Reserve Bank dropped the rate by twenty-five basis points in a bid to boost the economic growth. 

 

 

Now most economists² had not expected the move, and some are questioning whether it was necessary. Economist¹ S. A. says that means the cut must be shortlived. 

 

 

This rate cut and any other that we might get over the next few months, the treasurer³ says, might turn out to be necessary, and we see the Reserve Bank taking this rate cut back before the year is up depending on what happens over the season causing it. In that sense it looks like what happened in the end of 2001 when the Reserve Bank cut rates in October and December of that year after the terrorist attacks of 9-11, only to rise again in May and June in 2002. 

 

 

Let's go to the markets. The share markets fell rarely overnight. The Dow, the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 all grew sharply. In London the FTSE closed up more than one percent. 

 

 

Checking commodity prices. WTC is trading at 53 US dollars a barrel, Tapies is 57 US dollars a barrel, and gold this morning is worth 1260 US dollars an ounce. The Ausie is buying just over 78 US cents, 68 euro cents, and 51 pence sterling⁴. 

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 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》

3 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

4 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。