VOA标准英语2011--Global Stocks Rise on Eurozone Hopes

Global Stocks Rise on Eurozone Hopes

World markets rose sharply Tuesday on hopes that Greece will be able to avoid a disastrous¹ default. The country's finance minister told journalists that Greece expects to receive bailout disbursements on time, and there will not be a suspension of payments to other eurozone countries that also are plagued by high levels of debt. Reports that European leaders may be considering bolder moves to ease the region's debt crisis helped to ease investor³ concerns, but some European leaders are downplaying the speculation⁴ as premature⁵.
Financial markets reacted to positive news about Greece with big rallies across the board.
In Asia - Tokyo's Nikkei was up nearly 3 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed more than 4 percent higher.
Major indexes from London to Germany saw even larger gains, following assurances from Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
"The disbursement² will take place and it will take place on time," said Venizelos.
The Greek government still must carry out highly unpopular austerity measures before eurozone countries approve another installment⁶ on Greece's first bailout package.
Without the $10 billion disbursement, Greece says it will run out of money by mid-October.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou spoke⁷ to German business leaders on Tuesday.
"I can guarantee that Greece will live up to all its commitments," said Papandreou. "I promise you, we Greeks will soon sight our way back to growth and prosperity after this period of pain."
But many in Greece are not so optimistic. Demonstrators, angry about wage cuts and tax increases, say poor people are unfairly targeted.
"Enough is enough," said a man. There is no way they can continue like this. We will protest, we will strike because they are not fair. The measures are not fair. The same people keep suffering."
Despite continuing unrest in Greece, European leaders expressed confidence that painful reforms will lead to a more stable Greek economy.
German Chancellor⁸ Angela Merkel promised to do everything in her power to keep Greece in the European Union. But she also moved to curb⁹ speculation about a larger eurozone bailout fund.
"We are simply not available for further economic stimulus¹⁰ programs," said Merkel. "The idea that growth can only be achieved through more debt is wrong - I'm deeply convinced of that."
Some economists¹¹ say Europe's $600 billion emergency fund is not large enough to cover other European countries that may need assistance in the future.
For now, expectations of a possible end to the Greek crisis helped to lift U.S. stocks for a third consecutive¹² session.

1 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

2 disbursement   

n.支付，付款

参考例句：

• Marine bill of lading showing any disbursement charges marked COLLECT not acceptable. 海运提单上显示的任何费用标明“到付”将不予接受。
• This makes the disbursement of 51 channel is very convenient. 这就使得51的支付渠道非常方便。

3 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

6 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

9 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

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 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。