Worries about the health of the global economy are again taking their toll on the world markets. Following earlier drops in Asia, European indexes are down across the board.
对全球经济健康的担忧再次冲击着世界市场。在稍早亚洲股市下跌之后，欧洲各大股指全面下滑。
The reason for the global gloom rests with recession fears in the United States. Electronics retailer Circuit City is the latest high-profile casualty. It has filed for bankruptcy protection.
全球经济一片黯淡，其主要原因是担心美国出现衰退。美国电子产品零售商“电路城”是最新一个引人关注的牺牲品。电路城已经申请破产保护。
Also, worries about the big-three U.S. automotive giants continue to focus nervous investor attention. After posting a $2.5 billion loss in the third quarter, General Motors said it could run out of operating cash next year. Shares in GM plunged 23 percent overnight to levels not seen since the end of World War II.
此外，人们对美国三大汽车巨头前景的担忧，仍是紧张不安投资者关注的话题。通用汽车在第三季度出现25亿美元的亏损后表示，运营资金明年将告罄。昨天通用汽车的股价狂跌23%，为二战结束以来的最低点。
In Europe, oil prices are down. Financial sector stocks like UBS and Deutsche Bank are also taking a hit.
在欧洲，石油价格下跌。而诸如瑞士联合银行和德意志银行的金融业类股也蒙受损失。
In London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he wants to see coordinated action on the stimulus front when world leaders gather later this week in Washington to talk economics.
在伦敦，英国首相布朗说，世界领导人本星期晚些时候在华盛顿举行经济问题会谈时，他希望各国领导人在刺激计划方面能采取协调行动。
"We are in a position to take the action," Mr. Brown said. "Other countries including Germany and France and others I have mentioned like China are taking action. We have taken some action already and we are prepared to look at further action. That is the way to get the economy through this difficult time. And one initiative here and there is not going to make the difference. What you need is a coordinated strategy and preferably a coordinated strategy across the world and not just in one country."
布朗说：“我们准备好采取行动。其它国家包括德国、法国，以及我提到的中国等国家正在采取行动。我们也已经采取一些措施，并着手出台进一步的措施。这是使经济摆脱这个困难时期的途径。但是，各国单独采取的措施解决不了大问题。我们需要的是协调战略，最好是全球统一协调行动，而不是某一个国家的行动。”
Mr. Brown says nations have only one effective option and that is to work together.
布朗说，世界各国只有一个有效的抉择，那就是共同合作。
"This is, I repeat, a global problem that you can see spreading across every part of the world so it does need these global solutions," Mr. Brown said. "And that is why I pressed hard for this Washington meeting, it is also why I hope out of the Washington meeting, people will get a sense that all countries are prepared to take the action that is necessary."
他说：“我重申，那就是，这是个全球问题，正在向世界的每一个地区蔓延，因此需要拿出一个全球性的解决办法来。我极力敦促召开这次华盛顿会议的原因正在于此。同时，我希望通过这次华盛顿会议，人们能认识到所有国家都准备好采取必要的行动。”
The economic slowdown is becoming more evident by the day in Europe. In Britain, housing sales are at their lowest level in more than 30 years and retail sales figures for October show the largest falls in three years.
欧洲经济放缓的迹象与日俱增。在英国，房屋销售数量为30多年来的最低水平，10月份的零售数字显示出三年来最大的跌幅。
Many analysts feel that stimulus plans among those countries attending the Washington gathering will help to boost domestic consumption in places like Britain. They also warn against the urge to place protectionist barriers up.
许多分析人士认为，出席华盛顿会议的那些国家出台的刺激计划将能帮助在英国等国扩大内需。他们同时警告说，要提防设立贸易保护主义壁垒。 |