澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-05-01

 The chairman of Woodside Petroleum¹ and the National Australia Bank Michael Chaney says that both sides of politics need to rein² in their spending commitments. He is warning that Australia risks becoming like Europe's debt-laden countries.

 

"The problem I have is these sort of decisions tend to be made on the run or that's the perception. Their terrific ideas and as I say no one would argue with many of them. But we need to be able to pay for them and you can't just keep spending money without getting the revenue. In the end, you end up like the countries we are seeing now in Europe that have very high levels of debt and a very few ways of getting out of it."

 

Meanwhile, unemployment in the Euro Zone has risen to a new record high. There are now more than 90 million people out of work right across the region.

 

 

But in some good news, inflation has fallen to a three-year low, fueling expectations of an interest rate cut.

To the markets.

 

 

The Dow Jones was 20.1 points higher at the close. The Nasdaq was up 22. The S&P 500was four points higher. And in London overnight, the FTSE closed 28 points weaker.

To commodity prices.

 

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 93 US dollars. Tapis Crude is at 107 US dollars and you can pick up an ounce of gold for 1476 US dollars an ounce.

 

 

The Australian dollar is buying 104US cents, 79 Euro cents and 67 pence sterling³.

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 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。

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。