澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-02-13

 The British bank Barclays has announced it's cutting more than 3,500 jobs in an effort to cut costs. Almost half of the jobs will come at its investment bank. The vast majority of cuts are in Asia. Ninety-hundred jobs will come from its European retail¹ and business banking².

 

The bank is trying to rebuild its reputation after a string of damaging incidents. It was fined millions of dollars last year for attempting to rig the interbank lending rate. 

 

Police in Italy have arrested the head of a defense³ and aerial space company on suspicion of corruption⁴ and embezzlement⁵. The Chief Executive of Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, has been under investigation⁶ for several months. He's accused of illegally profiting from the sale of 12 helicopters in India. He denies any wrongdoing.

 

OK, to the markets.

 

The Dow finished above the 14,000 point mark for the first time since 2007. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 were also higher. And across in London, the FTSE put on 61. 

 

To commodity markets.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 97 dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is 123 US dollars a barrel. And gold is 1651 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 103 US cents, 77 Euro cents and 66 pence sterling⁷.

1 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。

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

5 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。

6 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。

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。