VOA标准英语2008年-Asian Markets Rebound

By Mil Arcega
Washington D.C.
24 January 2008
 

U.S. stock markets staged a late rally on Wednesday, with the major indexes all posting gains. Asian markets also rebounded¹, reversing a two-day free fall as investors² welcomed the U.S. Federal Reserve's bold three-quarter percentage point cut to its benchmark rate. But major European stock indexes did not fare as well one day after the central bank's surprise move. VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

News of the U.S.central bank's rate cut was the top story in financial markets around the world. In Mumbai, Indian shares rebounded from a two-day slide as the country's benchmark index rose more than seven percent.

By mid-day, Japan's Nikkei index had gained more than 400 points, ending the trading day up more than two percent.

"We have hopes that the decision [of interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve] will help sustain America's economic growth and global financial stability. We hope the impact is favorable to both the global and Japanese economy," said Matsuhige Ono, who is Japan's deputy chief cabinet secretary.

Share prices soared nearly 11 percent in Hong Kong, while indexes in Manila and Sydney gained about two percent.

But the markets showed more volatility³ in China. Despite closing three percent higher, a half-percent drop in the Shanghai Composite Index during mid-day trading prompted some analysts⁴ to look for additional cuts to the U.S. rate.

Anthony Espina, managing director at Goldride Securities in Hong Kong says, "Therefore, we expect the Federal Reserve to continue to cut interest rate very aggressively. We're looking for at least a quarter percent cut next week, and maybe even half a percent."

In Europe, the three quarter percent drop in the U.S. rate failed to produce the desired effect. Major stock indexes in Paris and Frankfurt declined sharply on fears that a slowing U.S. economy would cause world stock prices to fall.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed those concerns at a gathering⁵ of the world's top political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland. "The U.S. economy is resilient, its structure sound and its long term economic fundamentals are healthy. The United States continues to welcome foreign investment and free trade, and the economy, our economy, will remain a leading engine of global economic growth," Rice said.

Global markets are still awaiting the details of a $145 billion U.S. economic stimulus⁶ plan that is expected to be unveiled in about three weeks.

1 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。

2 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

3 volatility   

n.挥发性，挥发度，轻快，（性格）反复无常

参考例句：

• That was one reason why volatility was so low last year.这也是去年波动性如此低的原因之一。
• Yet because volatility remained low for so long,disaster myopia prevailed.然而，由于相当长的时间里波动性小，灾难短视就获胜了。

4 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。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。