英国经济因公投遭冲击 主权信用评级遭调降

 Britain suffered further blows to its economic standing¹ last Monday as two top ratings agencies downgraded its sovereign credit score, judging the vote to leave the European Union would hurt its economy.

上周一，英国的经济地位遭受进一步打击，两家顶级评级机构同时调降该国的主权信用评级，认为脱欧公投可能损及了该国经济。

Standard And Poor's stripped Britain of its last remaining top-notch² credit rating, dropping it by two grades from "AAA" to "AA" and warning more downgrades could follow.

标普将英国"AAA"的最高信用评级下调两个级距至"AA"，并警告称未来可能会继续下调。

英国经济因公投遭冲击 主权信用评级遭调降

Fitch Ratings also downgraded its ranking for Britain's creditworthiness by one notch, and similarly said more cuts could follow.

惠誉则把英国信用评级调降一个级距，并同样表示，更多的下调可能会随之而来。

The ratings agencies effectively added a rubber stamp to the market's view of the Brexit vote, as sterling³ tanked to a 31-year low against the U.S. dollar and stock markets fell for a second trading day since the referendum.

两家评级机构实际上确认了市场对英国脱欧公投的看法。自公投以来，英镑兑美元触及31年低点，股市连续第二日下挫。

It was the first time SP had chopped an AAA-rated sovereign credit rating by two notches⁴ in one move.

这是标普首次把一国主权信用评级从“AAA”连降两个级距。

The British pound fell to a three-decade low and the pan-European stock index suffered its worst two-day decline in more than seven years.

英镑跌至30年低点，泛欧洲股指创七年多来连续两个交易日最大跌幅。

"In our opinion, this (referendum) outcome is a seminal⁵ event, and will lead to a less predictable, stable, and effective policy framework in the UK," SP said in a statement.

标普在声明中称：“在我们看来，这样的公投结果是影响非常深远的事件，它会降低英国政策框架的可预测性、稳定性和有效性。”

Big banks have already begun to take action to shift operations out of the UK. A quarter Britain companies planned to freeze recruitment, with 5% planning to cut jobs, a survey by the Institute of Directors found.

各大银行已开始采取行动，把业务迁出英国。英国董事协会进行的调查发现，1/4的英国企业准备冻结招聘，5%的英国企业计划裁员。

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 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。

3 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

4 notches   

n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级

参考例句：

• The Indians cut notches on a stick to keep count of numbers. 印第安人在棒上刻V形凹痕用来计数。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They cut notches in the handle of their pistol for each man they shot. 他们每杀一个人就在枪托上刻下一个V形记号。 来自辞典例句

5 seminal   

adj.影响深远的；种子的

参考例句：

• The reforms have been a seminal event in the history of the NHS.这些改革已成为英国国民保健制度史上影响深远的一件大事。
• The emperor's importance as a seminal figure of history won't be diminished.做为一个开创性历史人物的重要性是不会减弱的。