VOA标准英语2008年-Asian Markets Rebound; Growth Outlook Dims Due

Financial markets in Asia have rebounded¹ after massive central bank intervention² and moves by the United States authorities to assist troubled financial firms. But as Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, while Asia's economic growth prospects³ are expected to dim in 2009, analysts⁴ expect the financial sector⁵ to remain resilient after a decade of reforms.
　
A passerby⁶ glances at a digital stock index display outside a brokerage office in Tokyo, 19 Sep 2008

Asia's financial markets recovered strongly Friday as investors⁸ took their cue from U.S. central bank intervention with the pumping of over $200 million into fragile credit markets and government measures to boost share trading volumes.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai indices surged over nine per cent after the Chinese government cut taxes on share purchases and bought shares in state-owned banks.

Japan's Nikkei index gained almost four percent while shares in South Korea leapt over 4.5 percent as investor⁷ confidence returned to the markets driven on by a strong U.S. market recovery.

The U.S. government was reported to be preparing to set up a new entity⁹ to assist troubled financial firms. Other short term policy measures in Britain and New York tempered heavy selling.

But credit markets remained cautious despite the measures, and moves by central banks in Japan, Australia, Indonesia and India Friday to inject a further $42 billion into credit markets.

The moves by central banks and governments came as international capital markets are seen to be facing the most severe crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s - triggered by systemic failures in the financial and banking¹⁰ sector in the United States, accompanied by restrictions¹¹ on international trade.

Financial markets this week have been gripped by panic after major U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers was forced into bankruptcy¹², other troubled banks were forced to sell and the U.S. government mounted an $85 billion rescue operation for troubled international insurance house, AIG.

Analysts are expecting a major restructuring of the U.S. financial market in the wake of the crisis triggered by a credit shortage and recession in the U.S. housing market.

Economists¹⁴ are now warning of a sharp downturn in the global economy as financial market uncertainties¹⁵ spill over to the general economy, including Asia.

Director General of the United Nation's Conference on Trade and Development, Supachai Panitchapkadi, this week warned the global downturn will continue into 2009.

Suvojit Banerjee, an economist¹³ with the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) says Asia's export sector, a key driver of most economies, will be hit by a downturn in the European and U.S. economies.

But Banerjee says a downturn will be eased somewhat by the strength in domestic consumption in Asia, with most governments holding substantial foreign exchange reserves. He says the medium term outlook is favorable.

"In the longer term investors are likely to realize that these economies remain very solid and largely robust¹⁶ with decent growth prospects as compared to developed country markets so there will be a return of interest to the region," he said.

Banerjee also says the Asia region's banking and finance sectors¹⁷ are in better shape to face the current crisis after efforts to rebuild a stronger banking sector following the financial crisis of a decade ago.

"The region is likely to withstand the brunt of the financial turmoil¹⁸ because of the many policy measures undertaken after the 1997 financial crisis," he said.

The recovery in markets comes ahead of a scheduled meeting of central bank governors from Japan, China, Australia, India and several South Asian and South-East Asian countries meeting in the Thai capital Bangkok Saturday in a closed door session appraising¹⁹ recent developmnents on the global financial markets.

 

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 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。

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

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 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 passerby   

n.过路人，行人

参考例句：

• We had our photo taken by a passerby.我们请了一个路人为我们照相。
• A passerby heard her screams and rushed to her aid.一个过路人听见她的尖叫，便冲过去帮助她。

7 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

8 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

9 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

10 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

11 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

12 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

13 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

14 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

16 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

17 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

19 appraising   

v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价

参考例句：

• At the appraising meeting, experts stated this method was superior to others. 鉴定会上，专家们指出这种方法优于其他方法。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The teacher is appraising the students' work. 老师正在评定学生的作业。 来自辞典例句