澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2015-07-22

 Official inflation figures are due out today and many are expecting a big jump as everyday items become more expensive. The inflation rate is expected to increase for 1.3 to 1.7% in the June quarter. Economists¹ believe the rising cost of fuel and rising cost fresh food and vegetables have pushed up the inflation rate. However, the good news for consumers is the rising prices are not expected to last as the inflation rate is expected to pull back in coming quarters.

A group of merging² economies have launched a new financial institution called New Development Bank in Shanghai. The bank is backed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa collectively known as the “Brics Countries”. The bank will lend money to developing countries to help finance infrastructure³ projects in the region. The bank is seen as an alternative to the World Bank and the International Monetary⁴ Fund although the group says it is not arrival. To the global markets, and there were falls overnight due to some weaker than expected corp. earnings⁵ data. The Dow fell 191 points. The Nasdaq fell 0.2% while S&P 500 lost nearly 0.5%. In London, the FTSE also fell by 1/3 of a percent. Checking commodity prices, West Texas Crude is trading at 50 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is at 59 US dollars a barrel. And gold is trading at 1100 US dollars an ounce. The Australian dollar is currently buying 74 US cents, 68 euro cents, and 48 pence sterling⁶.

1 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 merging   

合并（分类）

参考例句：

• Many companies continued to grow by merging with or buying competing firms. 许多公司通过合并或收买竞争对手的公司而不断扩大。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• To sequence by repeated splitting and merging. 用反复分开和合并的方法进行的排序。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

5 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

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。