澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-07-29

 Finance now, and the US markets continue to lose steam overnight as investors¹ remain very nervous about the debt ceiling vote, which has now been postponed². The Dow has closed down 62 points; the NASDAQ is one point higher; the S&P500 is down four. And in London, the FTSE closed up 16. 

 

Checking commodity prices: West Texas Crude is trading at 97 US dollars and 46 cents a barrel; Tapis crude is at 125 US dollars and 94 cents a barrel; and gold this morning is at 1,614 US dollars and 50 cents an ounce. 

 

The Australian dollar is buying one dollar and nine US cents, 76 euro cents and 67 pence sterling³. 

 

Now as just mentioned, the US House of Representatives has now postponed that crucial vote on a bill to increase the country’s debt ceiling. Earlier, the speaker John Boehner made a final appeal for both parties to work together. 

 

"Today, the House will take action, again, on a solution that to end this debt limit crisis. We’ll take action again, just like we did on our budget, on solutions to the problems that are facing our nation. After today, the House will have sent to the Senate not one, but two different bills that will rein⁴ in spending, increase the debt ceiling and bring an end to this crisis. When the House takes action today, the United States Senate will have no more excuses for inaction."

1 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

2 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

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 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。