澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-12-12

 And HSBC has confirmed it's to pay a record fine of 1.9 billion dollars in a settlement over a money laundering¹. A US senate investigation² earlier in the year found the bank had been a conduit for drug kingpins and rogue³ nations. 

 

The bank had been expecting a big fine and has since been working to improve its systems. Analysts⁴ say it'll take some time for HSBC to repair its battered⁵ reputation.

 

“They were factoring the things into an extend. They were aware of what potentially might be around the corner. And certainly, the share price action this morning isn't chaotic⁶ on there. So, you know, the company has already looked to and start to deal with this by talking about cost cutting measures of cutting about 2.5 to 3.5 billion in costs and asset stripping as well. So I think as far as the fiscal⁷ issues are concerned, it's coverable. I think reputationally speaking though, this might take them a little bit more time for them to get that reputation back.”

 

Just a liitle bit. Let's go to the markets.

 

The Dow is up 80 points overnight. The Nasdaq is 35 points higher. The S&P 500 is up 9. And in London overnight, the FTSE put on 3.

 

To commodity markets.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 85 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is 113 US dollars a barrel. And gold is at 1710 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 105 US cents, 81 Euro cents and 65 pence sterling⁸.

1 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

6 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

7 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

8 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。