VOA标准英语2009年-World Stock Markets Plunge Again on Latest Econ

World shares tumbled Monday as the recession worsened in the U.S. and more bad international corporate¹ news was released. In London, banking² giant HSBC Holdings announced it was seeking to raise nearly $18 billion from investors³ and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown prepared for his meeting later this week with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House.
　
Man walks past HSBC headquarters (file photo)

As the negative news piled up, the downward pressure increased, forcing share prices lower.

The latest U.S. GDP figures from Friday drove the Asian markets down with the Tokyo and Hong Kong indices both losing nearly four percent.

Hours later, the same story played out in Europe where share prices headed down.

Financial stocks in particular were weaker lead by the banking giant HSBC that reported a nearly 70 percent drop in 2008 net profits. The institution also announced it was looking to raise just under $18 billion in new capital through a share issue.

HSBC chairman Stephen Green says raising that money now makes good business sense for the future.

"These are extraordinary times, they are very turbulent, they are very volatile⁴ and I think it is right that we should make sure that our capital continues to be absolutely beyond question in these extraordinary times," Green said. "Banks all over the place have been raising capital, some from government, some from the market, the market is expecting higher levels of capital and I think it is right that we should be ahead of those expectations if you will."

Julian Skan from the banking consultancy firm Accenture says it appears the move is being done for the right reasons.

The move is to provide a capital base for the bank so that it does not have any disruption to its strategy over the next five years," Skan said. "So, I think it is a good move to do it once rather than do it a number of times which could erode⁵ shareholder⁶ confidence. It is a large amount of money. What they are saying is that it is largely for acquisitions because they are distressed⁷. So, I think, it is a good thing."

HSBC also plans to eliminate some 6,000 jobs in the U.S.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Brown has flown out to Washington. He will be meeting with President Obama at the White House on Tuesday and discussing what Brown calls the global new deal - a series of coordinated⁸ international actions aimed at easing the worldwide economic downturn.

The British leader will also address a joint⁹ session of Congress on Wednesday before returning home.

1 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。

2 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。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

5 erode   

v.侵蚀，腐蚀，使...减少、减弱或消失

参考例句：

• Once exposed,soil is quickly eroded by wind and rain.一旦暴露在外，土壤很快就会被风雨侵蚀。
• Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits.金融市场的竞争降低了利润。

6 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

7 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

8 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。