Business Channel 2006-10-26&28

What if I answered: Well, it depends. You say: Oh ,come on ,Val, be more direct than that. (Please) But it does depend on how much education you have because according to a new government report, a bachelor's degree is worth around 23,000 dollars a year. That's the average difference in earnings¹ between adults with a bachelor's degree and those with a high school diploma. In fact, take a look at these numbers, Richard, on average, college graduates earned just over 51,000 dollars a year in 2004, which is the most recent year for which figures are available. Now, compare that to an average annual salary at around 28,000 dollars for adults with only a high school diploma. Those with advanced degrees earned more than twice that amount. So Richard, as you might expect, it pays to get that diploma, even though the cost of getting it is really out of reach of a growing number of people, Richard.

That's right, kids, remember that, it does pay. We saw the number. Val proved it to us. It's in the pudding here. Also paying off, and this is for Wal-Mart really since we're talking about money, their generic² drug plan paying off for them.

Oh, absolutely, and Wal-Mart knows it, and it's speeding up the rollout of that drug plan yet again. The world's biggest retailer³ says it's expanding its 4-dollar prescription⁴ drug program to 12 more states beginning today. The plan first launched in Florida last month. It was a huge success. The company then expanded ahead of schedule to another 14 states. Wal-Mart wasn't planning to make that move until January at next year. So, what does this mean for Wal-Mart? Analysts⁵ say that the program could bring in more customers who would then shop in other departments in the store. It could also make Wal-Mart a stronger competitor among drugstore chains such as CVS and Walgreens. So far, Richard, those chains have not matched the plan.

Hmm, it, it is a great plan, how did their stock do today in light of that?

Oh, gained nearly 2% on the day. And also listen to this, since the plan was first announced, again back in September, the stock has risen more than 6.5%. Let's take a look now at the overall market because it was slow-going at first, but stocks managed to finish modestly higher thanks to some solid corporate⁶ earnings reports. And adding to the positive sentiment⁷, oil prices slipped more than a dollar following yesterday's spike⁸. You are looking now at the New York Stock Exchange Big Board and checking the final numbers. The Dow Industrials rose 28 points, finishing at yet another record high. This is the 13th in the past 18 sessions. The NASDAQ Composite⁹ added nearly 1%.

1 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%。

2 generic   

adj.一般的，普通的，共有的

参考例句：

• I usually buy generic clothes instead of name brands.我通常买普通的衣服，不买名牌。
• The generic woman appears to have an extraordinary faculty for swallowing the individual.一般妇女在婚后似乎有特别突出的抑制个性的能力。

3 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

4 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

7 sentiment   

n.感情，情趣，意见，观点，多愁善感

参考例句：

• He has illustrated this sentiment thoroughly in a drama.他在一出戏剧里充分地表现了这种感情。
• Should sentiment be controlled by reason?感情应受理智的控制吗？

8 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

9 composite   

adj.混合成的，综合成的；n.合成物，复合材料

参考例句：

• English is a composite of many languages.英语是多种语言混合而成的。
• This composite illustration was made by putting together a number of drawings.这本综合说明书是集若干图片汇合而成的。