澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-07-21

 And when the markets in Europe closed a couple of hours ago, London's FTSE 100 was down. The Dax and Euro were also down. In the US, trading comes to a close shortly and the Dow Jones is down five points, while the S&P 500 is down three.The Australian dollar is worth nearly 92 US cents this morning. It'll also buy you 60 British pence and 1 dollar and 15 cents New Zealand.

 

G20 finance ministers have backed a radical¹ tax reform plan. It takes aim at the loopholes used by multinational² firms. The plan will make it more difficult for companies to stash³ profits offshore⁴, while allowing countries to tax profits held in offshore subsidiaries. Low tax payments by major corporations such as Google, Amazon and Facebook can spark recent public anger among European voters.

 

China has announced that it's scrapping⁵ controls on interest rates charged on bank lending. It means banks will be allowed to set loan rates independently. Analysts⁶ describe it as an important step towards liberalising the country's financial system.

 

Some good news for the US. Auto⁷ industry after Detroit was declared bankrupt. Analysts say the industry is safe for about second half of the year with sales nearing levels recorded before the 2008 economic downturn. New vehicle production in Northern America grows 4 per cent in the frist half of the year.

1 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

2 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

3 stash   

v.藏或贮存于一秘密处所；n.隐藏处

参考例句：

• Stash away both what you lost and gained,for life continues on.将得失深藏心底吧，为了那未来的生活。
• That's supposed to be in our private stash.这是我的私人珍藏。

4 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

5 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

6 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。

7 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。