U.S. stocks extend losses for fourth day

    EW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. stocks extended losses for the fourth straight day on Friday after mixed reports showed U. S. retail¹ sales gained less than expected while consumer（消费者，顾客） sentiment climbed higher.
    According to the Commerce Department（商务部）, retail sales rose 0.4 percent and sales excluding autos climbed 0.2 percent. The broad declines outside of auto² and gas sales offered more evidence that the economy was slowing.
    July's increase followed two months of straight losses. However, it was still lower than economists³' forecast of a 0.5-percent gain.
    The market was under pressure even as a separate（单独的,分开的） report showed consumer confidence rose in August.
    The Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment climbed to 69.6 from a reading of 67.8 in July, showing a slump⁴ in consumer spending is unlikely.
    The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 16.80 points, or 0.16 percent, to 10,303.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 4.36 points, or 0.40 percent, to 1,079.25 and the Nasdaq was down 16.79 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,173.48.
    Crude prices continued slipping on Friday to the lowest level in a month on renewed economic concerns. Light, sweet crude for September delivery fell 35 cents to settle at 75.39 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
    In London, Brent crude was down 29 cents at 75.11 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures⁵ exchange.
    On the currency front, the euro fell to 1.2755 dollars from 1. 2824 dollars in late New York trading.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 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。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 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》

4 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。

5 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。