VOA慢速英语--美国和日本的利率维持不变

AS IT IS 2016-06-18 Central Banks in US, Japan Leave Interest Rates Unchanged 美国和日本的利率维持不变

Central banks in two of the world’s largest economies – the United States and Japan -- left interest rates unchanged this week.

In the United States, the Federal Reserve left the main interest rates it controls at their current levels.

The Federal Open Market Committee decides the U.S. government’s monetary¹ policy. The committee’s members met for two days in Washington, DC.

Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen spoke² to reporters Wednesday after the meetings.

“Today, the Federal Open Market Committee maintained the target range for the federal funds rate at one-quarter to one-half percent.”

Yellen said the Federal Reserve System, called the Fed for short, will use care when making decisions.

“Recent economic indicators³ have been mixed, suggesting that our cautious approach to adjusting monetary policy remains⁴ appropriate.”

She added that the central bank will make small changes, when necessary, to improve economic policy.

She noted⁵ that U.S. employment and economic growth numbers have not met the Fed’s expectations. But she warned against short-term judgements.

“Although recent market data have been on balance disappointing, it’s important not to overreact to one or two monthly readings.”

Some observers say the central bank missed several chances to raise interest rates earlier this year.

Greg McBride of Bankrate.com told VOA on Skype that the Federal Reserve needs to raise rates soon.

But others say the Fed could raise interest rates not once, but twice later this year. However, the U.S. presidential election could make the decision more difficult.

Ken⁶ Simonson is with the National Association for Business Economics. He says any move to change rates before the election could be criticized as an attempt to influence the vote.

Japan also leaves interest rates where they are

In Japan, stock prices went down on Thursday while the value of Japanese money against the U.S. dollar went up.

Traders reacted after Japan’s central bank left its monetary policy unchanged.

Bank of Japan Governor Harukiko Kuroda said “Japan’s economy is likely to expand moderately as a trend.”

The bank inaction was widely expected. However, the rising exchange value of the yen⁷ against the dollar this year was not.

Concerns about Britain possibly withdrawing from the European Union have caused the yen to strengthen on international currency exchanges.

On Friday, the Japanese yen closed at more than 104 yen to the dollar in Asian trading. That is its highest level since 2014.

A government spokesman in Tokyo said officials are watching the currency market. A high value for the yen can hurt Japanese exports, an important part of the country’s economy.

Tobias Harris is vice⁸ president of the research group Teneo Intelligence. He said he does not think the government will take action to reduce the value of the yen. He said the U.S. presidential campaign also appears to be influencing the Japanese government.

Businessman Donald Trump⁹, the likely candidate of the Republican Party, has criticized Japan’s monetary policy. During the campaign, he accused Japan of keeping the value of the yen low to make its exports competitive in foreign markets.

Harris said, “The Abe administration will do whatever it can to talk down the yen; it will use other tools to boost demand.” But, he added, “I don’t think Tokyo will intervene before the U.S. presidential election.”

The yen has increased in value by more than 13 percent against the dollar this year. It is also now trading on high levels with the British pound, the euro and the Australian dollar.

The troubling numbers show the difficulties faced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his efforts to increase economic growth. His three-part plan includes making more money available to Japanese banks, increased government spending and reforms.

But experts say the Bank of Japan alone cannot get the economy going again.

Words in This Story

indicators – n. a sign or number that shows the condition or state of something

cautious – adj. careful, not moving quickly

adjusting – v. making small changes to improve something

appropriate – adj. correct, the right choice for a purpose or situation

1 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

7 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。