Japan bank lending drops 2.1% in Dec., money stock rises

    TOKYO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The overall level of bank lending(银行贷款) in Japan fell 2.1 percent from a year earlier in December, marking the 13th straight month of decline, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) said Wednesday.
    According to the central bank, the level of outstanding loans stood at 393.86 trillion yen² (4.73 trillion U.S. dollars) in the recording³ month, this follows a 2.1 percent decline in November.
    Bank lending, including trusts, also declined 1.9 percent on year, standing¹ at 456.5 trillion yen (5.57 trillion U.S. dollars) following the 2.0 percent decline in the previous month, the BOJ said.
    According to the BOJ（日本央行）, adjusted bank lending fell 1.8 percent on year after falling an annualized 1.9 percent drop a month earlier.
    Separately the BOJ said Wednesday that M2 money stock rose 2.3 percent on year in December to 782.3 trillion yen (9.39 trillion U. S. dollars), below the median expectations for a 2.6 percent annual rise.
    The balance of M2 includes currency in circulation and deposits, but excludes those held at Japan Post Bank.
    M3 money stock was up 1.8 percent on year to 1,082.9 trillion yen (13 trillion U.S. dollars) after rising by 2.0 percent on year in the previous month, the central bank said.    The balance of M3 includes currency in circulation, deposit money and so-called "quasi" money and CDs.
    Japan's money supply or money stock, refers to the total amount of money available in the nation's economy at a particular point in time and is usually defined as currency in circulation and demand deposits (depositors' easily-accessed assets on the books of financial institutions).
    Leading economists⁴ are quick to note that there is a direct relation in Japan between long-term price inflation and money- supply growth, at least for rapid increases in the amount of money in the economy.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 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》