AS IT IS 2016-02-23 US Markets Claw Back Gains, But 'Chop' Ahead

AS IT IS 2016-02-23 US Markets Claw Back Gains, But 'Chop' Ahead

New York Stock Exchange traders are wondering which way a volatile¹ financial market will move in the upcoming months.

Low oil prices combined with less demand around the world have weakened American stock prices.

By the close of trading last week, the Standard and Poor's 500 was down more than 6 percent this year. But the S&P 500 Index rose 2.8 percent on Friday to rebound² from a New Year's slump³. 

On Monday, the S&P 500 was up 27 points to close at 1,945. The Dow Jones Average, the main measure of major American stocks, rose 228 points to close at 16,620.

Wall Street traders and analysts⁵ are looking at factors that would keep the market in the positive. But for now, Wall Street watchers expect extreme ups and downs.

The term “choppy trade” is used often now on Wall Street. A choppy market occurs when prices swing up and down with no major price movement in either direction.

NYSE’s Peter Costa said: “I think there is more volatility⁶ in these markets. What you may see is choppy trade with 200- to 300-point swings in the Dow, and 40 in the S&P 500 … for at least the next couple months.”

This week is an important one for the market. Financial reports on consumer spending should be released by Target, Macy’s, Home Depot⁷ and Lowe’s. The Consumer Confidence report is set to be released Tuesday.

American retail⁸ leader Wal-Mart recently reported earnings⁹ below estimates and lowered its full-year sales guidance.

Consumer spending is a key factor to watch as the fourth-quarter earnings season comes to a close, said market analyst⁴ Lindsey Bell.

Another sector¹⁰ traders will contend with this week includes a gross national product report Friday.

Words in This Story

volatile – adj.  likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way

rebound – v.  an increase or improvement after a decrease or decline

slump – n.  a sudden decrease in prices or value

Dow Jones Average – n. the daily average of the stock prices for a group of large American companies

choppy – adj. marked by sudden stops and starts

gross national product – n. the total value of the goods and services produced by the people of a nation during a year

1 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。

2 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

3 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

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 volatility   

n.挥发性，挥发度，轻快，（性格）反复无常

参考例句：

• That was one reason why volatility was so low last year.这也是去年波动性如此低的原因之一。
• Yet because volatility remained low for so long,disaster myopia prevailed.然而，由于相当长的时间里波动性小，灾难短视就获胜了。

7 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

8 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

9 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%。

10 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。