VOA标准英语2008年-Asian Stock Markets Rebound After US Rate Cut

By Heda Bayron
Hong Kong
23 January 2008

Asian stocks recouped some of their steep losses of the past two days after market confidence received a shot in the arm from the U.S. Federal Reserve. But as VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Hong Kong, stock analysts¹ say the markets may remain volatile² despite Tuesday's U.S. interest-rate cut.

Most Asian indexes jumped within minutes of opening Wednesday as investors³ heaved a sigh of relief after two days of panic selling.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point - its biggest cut in more than two decades.

However, Ben Kwong, strategist at KGI Capital Asia in Hong Kong, says it is not yet clear if the rate cut will have a long-term impact.

"I think the rate cut by the Fed is a little bit late and the market is expecting more," he said. "I think today the rebound⁴ is just mainly due to short covering and not due to genuine buying. I think investors still have to see if the market can stabilize⁵ at the current level."

Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed more than two percent Wednesday, after losing more than nine percent in two days. South Korea's KOSPI rose more than one percent, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 surged 4.4 percent.

Some stock analysts say the Fed's surprise intervention⁶ Tuesday signaled that the toll⁷ on the U.S. economy of the home mortgage crisis may be worse than expected.

They expect another rate cut next week when the Federal Open Market Committee - which sets U.S. monetary⁸ policy - meets again.

As the specter of a U.S. recession loomed⁹, investors in the region have been selling shares in companies viewed highly vulnerable to a U.S. economic slowdown - mainly Asian exporters. In Wednesday's rallies, some exporters rose along with the rest of the market.

1 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。

2 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

5 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

6 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

7 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。

8 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。

9 loomed   

v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
• The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》