VOA标准英语2010年-Asian Markets Drop After Wall Street R

Asian stock prices have dropped in line with markets in the United States after President Obama announced plans for new limits on how banks invest.

Benchmark indexes in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Seoul fell up to two and a half percent Friday. Some markets sank nearly three percent in early trading, but the losses eased in the afternoon.

President Obama said Thursday he wants to restrict banks' ability to make excessively risky¹ investments to avoid another financial crisis.

U.S. markets drooped² on the news, leading Asian stocks to follow suit.

David Cohen, director of Asian forecasting at Action Economics in Singapore, says the sell-off is just a reflex and Mr. Obama's limits on banks are not likely to have significant effects on world markets.

"A lot of it is political in the United States, revolving³ around the populist anger at Wall Street," he said. "And, the fact that Obama waited this long to introduce the measure I think says something to that. It's more … as much a political response to some of the problems that the Democrats⁴ have been feeling lately."

The drop on Wall Street was the second day that stocks took a tumble. Markets slumped⁵ Wednesday after China said it would reduce bank lending to slow its economy.

Chinese officials said Thursday their economy is back into double-digit growth and has recovered from the global financial crisis.

Cohen says curbs⁶ on bank lending are a logical step in view of China's rapid growth.

"The reason the policy makers⁷ in Beijing are looking to tighten⁸ policy a little bit is simply because their economy has been showing strong momentum⁹ as it entered 2010 and it just might be appropriate to withdraw some of the aggressive stimulus¹⁰ that they added about a year ago in a successful effort to counter the drag from the global downturn," he said.

Some economists¹¹ have said China's economy was an important factor in the world avoiding a more serious economic problem.

Cohen agrees. He says the global economy is now on track to recover with Asian economies, and in particular China. in the lead.

But, he says although there is a lower chance of another financial crisis there are still risks that could shake up markets.

Cohen says there are no doubt more problems hidden in some banks and that governments still have to deal with the massive debts racked up from spending to stimulate¹² their economies.

In the Asian markets, Australia's All Ordinaries index fell 1.6 percent, Japan's Nikkei closed down almost 2.6 percent and Seoul's Kospi lost 2.2 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed six-tenths of a percent lower, but had been down nearly three percent in the morning.

1 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

2 drooped   

弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。
• The flowers drooped in the heat of the sun. 花儿晒蔫了。

3 revolving   

adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
• The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

6 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

7 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

9 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

10 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

11 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》

12 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。