英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-03-14

 China's industrial output has risen by just more than 8.5 percent in the first two months of the year. Government figures also show retail¹ sales were up by 12 percent on the previous year. Well impressive the results were less than what  analysts have been predicting adding to fears of slowdown in China's economy.

 

Asian markets fell on the news. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down around 2 percent. 

 

 

In the United States retail sales have risen for the first time in two months. Official figures show 0.3 percent jumped in February after falling just more than 0.5 percent in January. The result was about expectations and suggests the world's largest economy is gaining strength after suffering a third coldest winter on record. 

 

 

Now to the markets. 

 

 

US stocks were down around one percent, and knew the similar loss in London. 

 

 

To commodity prices. 

 

 

WTC is trading at 99 US dollars a barrel, and Tapies is at 113 US dollars a barrel. Gold is trading at 1,373 US dollars an ounce. The Australian dollar is buying 90 US cents, 65 euro cents, and 54 pence sterling². 

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 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。