澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-08-22

 And the ratings agency Standard&Poor's is warning the odds¹ of the United States slipping back into recession are on the rise. It says there is a 25 per cent  chance of another recession in the United States. In February, it said the odds of a double-dip recession were around 20 per cent.

 

 

 

Standard&Poor's says the European debt crisis has added greater uncertainty² to America's economic prospects³ next year. The US economy grew by an annual rate of 1.5 (one and a half) per cent in the second quarter. Now, that's a sharp slowdown from last year.

 

 

 

Unions are demanding more details from Telstra about its plan to shed hundreds of jobs across Australia and send some to the Philippines. The company is axing 650 jobs to streamline⁴ its customer service operations.

 

 

 

Jobs will be cut in call centres in regional New South Wales and Queensland. Hundreds of full-time⁵ and agency jobs will also go from Melbourne and Sydney.

 

 

 

Well, let's take a look at the markets.

 

 

 

And the Dow has closed down 68 points. The Nasdaq dropped 9. The S&P 500 fell 5. While in London, the FTSE rose 33 points. 

 

 

 

Checking commodity prices.

 

 

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 96 US dollars and 53 cents a barrel. Tapis Crude is trading at 119 US dollars and 53 cents a barrel. While gold is at 1637 US dollars an ounce.

 

 

 

The Australian dollar is buying 105 US cents, 84 Euro cents and 66 pence sterling⁶.

1 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

2 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

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 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

5 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

6 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。