英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-09-04

 And national account's figures out today are expected to show weak economic growth in the last quarter. Economists¹ surveyed by Bloomberg are forecasting gross domestic product to have grown by half of a percent in the three months to the end of June. Now that will put the annual rate of economic growth significantly below average at 2.4%.

 

Technology giant Microsoft is buying Nokia's struggling mobile phone business in a deal worth around 8 billion dollars.

 

The Finnish company says the deal is the best path forward for Nokia and its shareholders².

 

“The Nokia board of directors believe that this transaction creates significant economy value to our shareholders. We expect it will be significantly creative earnings³. It will equally strengthen our financial position. And it will provide a solid basis for future investment in Nokia's continuing businesses.”

 

Let's go to the markets.

 

And the Dow closed 24 points higher. The Nasdaq up 23. The S&P 500 7 points up. And in London overnight, the FTSE closed 38 points weaker.

 

To commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 109 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is 121 US dollars a barrel. And gold is 1413 US dollars an ounce. The Australian dollar is buying 91 US cents, 69 Euro cents and 58 pence sterling⁴.

1 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 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。