澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-01-30

 And a recovery in the US housing markets seem to be gathering¹ steam. House prices in November were up 5.5 percent on a year ago. Now that's the fastest rise since the market crash began in 2006. 

 

But it's not all good news for the US economy. Separate data suggests(error in speaking)  consumer confidence took an unexpected dip in January. It fell sharply to its lowest level in more than a year. The fall coincided with rises in income and payroll²  taxes. 

 

France's Labor³ Minister has caused a political storm by describing the country as “totally bankrupt”. Now he later back tracked, saying he was speaking about the past and it was all a joke.

 

The Finance Minister was quick to label the comment as inappropriate. French President Francois Hollande  has promised to reduce the country's deficit⁴ to below three per cent of output by the end of the year.

 

Let's go to the markets.

 

The Dow and the S&P 500 both rose about half a per cent. The Nasdaq was steady, though. And in London overnight, the FTSE was up 45 points. 

 

To commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 98 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is 121 US dollars a barrel and gold is worth 1663 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 105 US cents, 78 Euro cents and 66 pence sterling⁵.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

5 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。