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President Bush says the U.S. economy is facing challenging times. The president says the government is taking decisive action.

美国总统布什表示，美国经济面临富有挑战性的时期。但是布什还表示，政府正在采取决断性的行动。

As a jittery¹ U.S. stock market opened for business, the president sought to reassure² the American people.

星期一美国证券市场开盘时令人极度紧张不安。

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his top economic advisors³, Mr. Bush said his administration is on top of the situation.

布什总统谋求让美国人民安心。他在跟高层经济顾问开会后对记者说，他的政府在掌控局面。

"One thing is for certain - we are in challenging times," he said. "But another thing is for certain - that we have taken strong and decisive action."

他说：“有一件事情是肯定的。我们处在富有挑战性的时期。但是另一件事情也是肯定的，我们正在采取强有力的决定性行动。”

He signaled his support for steps taken in recent days by the U.S. central bank to cut interest rates and to provide financial markets with a sense of stability - in large part by rescuing the crisis-ridden investment firm, Bear Stearns. And he praised Treasury⁴ Secretary Henry Paulson for his efforts to promote calm and correct the economic slump⁵.

布什表示支持美国中央银行最近采取的行动，削减利率，向金融市场提供稳定感，主要手段是拯救危机四伏的贝尔斯登投资公司。布什称赞财政部长保尔森努力镇定局面，扭转经济衰退。

"You have shown the country and the world that the United States is on top of the situation," he said. "Secondly⁶, you have reaffirmed the fact that our financial institutions are strong and that our capital markets are functioning efficiently⁷ and effectively."

布什说：“你们向美国和全世界表明，美国在掌控局面；第二，你们再次证明这样一个事实，我们的金融机构强劲有力，我们的资本市场在有效运转。”

President Bush stressed that his administration will continue to monitor the situation and will take additional action, as warranted. He emphasized once again that the fundamentals of the U.S. economy are sound, saying in the long run, everything will be fine.

布什总统强调，他的政府将继续监视局势发展，并将采取有根据的额外的行动。他再次强调，美国经济的基本面是健康的。他说，从长远来看，一切都会好起来。

His comments - which were added to his schedule on relatively⁸ short notice - were aimed at easing economic concerns both at home and abroad. The slump in the U.S. economy - caused in part by problems in the home loan market - has had an impact around the world.

布什的评论是在他的原定日程上额外附加的，而且事先通知的时间很短。这次讲话的目的是缓解国内外的经济关切。美国经济衰退的部分原因是房屋贷款市场的问题。美国经济衰退在全世界都造成影响。

Stock prices are down in many countries, the dollar has hit record lows against the euro and the yen⁹, and oil and gold prices have hit new highs.

在许多国家，证券市场都在下跌。美元对欧元和日圆的比价已经下降到创记录的低点。石油和黄金价格则上升到新的高位。