澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-07-24

Regulators in the European Union say a stress test of 91 banks across the EU has found that the sector¹ is in good financial health. The study measured the banks’ capacity to survive a severe recession or another sovereign debt crisis. And all the major players passed, seven banks failed the test. But the European Central Bank says it proves that the EU financial sector is stronger than many people thought.

The Food and Grocery Council is calling on the Government to consider the impact its climate change policies could have on industry. The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that if re-elected, she’ll set up a citizens’ assembly that would gauge² community support for putting a price on carbon. The Grocery Council says industry needs to be involved because a carbon price on food production could mean local producers are unable to compete with foreign suppliers.

To the market numbers, and Wall Street closed higher on news that the major European banks passed the stress tests. The Dow finished up nearly 1 per cent. To Europe, and London's FTSE was fairly flat but Germany's DAX put on 24 points.

And checking currencies, the Australian dollar is stronger, buying 89 US cents.

1 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。

2 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。