Italy Faces Credit Rating Cut

 　　A major financial services company says that Italy faces a "significant chance" of having its credit rating cut soon, but that it has no plans to downgrade France's top credit standing¹.

　　Fitch Ratings said Tuesday it is confident that the 17-nation European bloc² that uses the euro will not break apart. But its sovereign ratings chief, David Riley, said in London that Fitch could trim the credit standings for Italy, Spain and four other eurozone countries by a notch³ or two by the end of January, which would likely boost their borrowing costs.

　　Financial experts are most worried about Italy, the eurozone's third largest economy. They are fearful that the debt-ridden country could need an international bailout like Greece, Ireland and Portugal, but that its debts would be too large for Europe to handle. Riley said that the "future of the euro will be decided⁴ at the gates of Rome."

　　Fitch has been reviewing France's top AAA credit standing. But Riley said it has has no plans to cut the rating for the currency bloc's second biggest economy unless the country sustains some major economic shock.

　　European leaders are attempting to work out details of a new European Union treaty to control the spending of individual governments.

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 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

3 notch   

n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级

参考例句：

• The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
• He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。