澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-07-15

 The US bank JPMorgan Chase says losses from risky¹ trading in its London office have widened to nearly six billion dollars. The bank originally estimated the losses at two billion dollars when the bad trades were disclosed in May. JPMorgan says the executives responsible for the losses have been dismissed without severance² pay. It says there's evidence some traders may have been trying to hide their losses.

 

 

The European Commissions has questioned the wisdom of ratings agency Moody's decision to cut Italy's debt rating shortly before an Italian bond auction³. Moody's downgraded Italy sovereign rating by two notches⁴ to BAA -2. It cited rising risks and a loss of market access. Moody's also warned it may still cut the rating further. It was the second downgrade in five months for Italy. A spokesman for the European Commissions says they are disappointed with the timing⁵ of the announcement. 

 

 

And South Korean workers at Hyundai and Kia have walked off the job to demand higher wages and fewer working hours. In the city of Ulsan, 25,000 Hyundai workers gathered outside a factory to voice their demands. A spokesman at Hyundai said the eight-hour stoppage was expected to hamper⁶ production of 4300 vehicles worth around 75 million dollars. The Hyundai Union warned if their demands are not met, there will be more industrial action.

1 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

2 severance   

n.离职金；切断

参考例句：

• Those laid off received their regular checks,plus vacation and severance pay.那些被裁的人都收到他们应得的薪金，再加上假期和解职的酬金。Kirchofer was terminated,effective immediately--without severance or warning.科奇弗被解雇了，立刻生效--而且没有辞退费或者警告。

3 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

4 notches   

n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级

参考例句：

• The Indians cut notches on a stick to keep count of numbers. 印第安人在棒上刻V形凹痕用来计数。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They cut notches in the handle of their pistol for each man they shot. 他们每杀一个人就在枪托上刻下一个V形记号。 来自辞典例句

5 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

6 hamper   

vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子

参考例句：

• There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
• The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。