澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-10-05

 To finance news now, and the US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the country's economic recovery is close to faltering¹. Appearing before a congressional committee, Mr Bernanke said he could understand frustration² with the slow recovery.

 

"Very generally, I think people are quite unhappy with the state of the economy and what's happening. They blame, with some justification³, the problems in the financial sector⁴ for getting us into this mess, and they are dissatisfied with the policy response here in Washington. And at some level, I can't blame them. Certainly, 9% unemployment and very slow growth is not a very good situation. That's what they are protesting."

 

Ben Bernanke there 

 

Let’s look at the markets, the Dow had a bit of the final-hour surge--it closed up 153 points. The NASDAQ is up 69; the S&P500 rose three. And across in London, the FTSE closed 131 points lower. 

 

Checking commodity prices, West Texas Crude is trading at 75 US dollars and 41 cents a barrel. Tapis crude is at 113 US dollars and 79 cents a barrel. And gold this morning is trading at 1,613 dollars and 94 cents an ounce. The Australian dollar is buying 95 US cents, 71 euro cents and 61 pence sterling⁵.

1 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

2 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

3 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

4 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。

5 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。