澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-11-30

 Global oil prices hit fresh four-year lows overnight after OPEC—the 12 nation price setting cartel run by Saudi Arabia defied calls to cut production to address over supply. Increasing production from the US and other countries has seen the oil price dropped by around 1/3 since the middle of this year. And the falls are expected to continue. 

 

Shares of oil and gas companies were salvaged¹ on the Australian share market today. The ASX Energy Index plunged² close to 8%. Oil and gas producer Santos has lost 13%. Woodside was down 7%, but Qantas (was) won beneficiary, up 7% by the close on hopes of lower fuel costs. The board Australian share market was not surprisingly weighed down by those energy stocks. By the close, the All Ords was off 83 points or 1.6%. And the ASX 200 Index also dropped 1.6%. The Australian dollar has fallen sharply against the greenback today and is now below 85 US cents.

 

Australian Banking³ Regulator is worried about the number of home owners taking out interest-only loans. Facing a parliamentary hearing, the Australian prudential regulation authority says it’s been urging some banks to reduce aggressive lending practices. / Chairman Wayne Buyers told the hearing that he and the reserve bank are considering new rules and interest-only loans to home owners may be something they’ll be looking at.

1 salvaged   

（从火灾、海难等中）抢救（某物）( salvage的过去式和过去分词 )； 回收利用（某物）

参考例句：

• The investigators studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage. 调查者研究了从飞机残骸中找到的黑匣子。
• The team's first task was to decide what equipment could be salvaged. 该队的首要任务是决定可以抢救哪些设备。

2 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

3 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。