澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-12-14

 And the US Federal Reserve says it won't take any more steps to boost economic growth this year. It says the economy has grown moderately, but warns the unemployment rate remains¹ high. It's left open the option to implement² more measures next year if the economy worsens. 

 

Meanwhile, retail³ sales faltered⁴ for the second straight month. Retail and food services sales edged up a mere⁵ 0.2 of a per cent in November. This is the weakest increase in six months and it means a slow start to the crucial year and holiday shopping season in the US. 

 

In Greece, disabled people gathered in central Athens to protest against cuts in services and benefits. Demonstrators say it's becoming increasingly difficult to survive on a shrinking income as those austerity measures take effect. Meanwhile, Greece's finance minister was meeting with the European Commission to negotiate details of the country's second international rescue package. 

 

Let's have a look at the markets for you now. The Dow has closed. It's ended the day 68 points lower. The NASDAQ’s dropped 32. S&P 500 has finished 13 down. In London, the FTSE is also 62 points, but 62 points higher.

 

Looking at commodity prices. West Texas Crude’s trading at 100 US dollars and 22 cents a barrel. Tapis is at 116 US dollars and 34 cents  a barrel. Gold is trading at 1630 US dollars and 99 cents an ounce. The Australian dollar is still hovering⁶ around parity--100 US cents there, 76 euro cents and buy 64 pence sterling⁷.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 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。

4 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

5 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

6 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

7 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。