经济学人:一周新闻报道 商业

 　　The world this week-Business 一周新闻报道 商业

　　Bank of America was reported to have reached a settlement with American regulators to pay around 17 billion for mis-selling mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis.  据报道美国银行已于美国监管部门已就其在2008金融危机前期不合格的抵押债权问题达成协议，将支付约170亿美元罚款。

　　It is by far the biggest penalty levied¹ on a single company.  这是截至目前对单个公司收取的最高罚款金额。

　　A significant chunk² of the fine relates to toxic³ mortgage products handled by Countrywide Financial and Merrill Lynch,  其中大部分金额与美国金融公司和美林证券公司所售卖的次级抵押品有关，

　　which BofA bought when both were teetering on the edge of bankruptcy⁴. 而美国银行在这两家公司濒临破产时进行了收购。

　　Benjamin Lawsky, New York state's financial regulator,  纽约金融监管员本杰明·罗斯基

　　slapped a 300m fine on Standard Chartered for failing to comply with anti-money-laundering procedures it had agreed to as part of a previous settlement in 2012.  对渣打银行处以3亿美元罚款，因其未能遵守在2012年同意签署的反洗钱协议。

　　He also imposed a 25m penalty on Price water house Coopers for softening⁵ a report about payments from Iran and other sanctioned countries made through Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in the face of pressure from the bank's executives. 同时他还强迫普永华道会计师事务所向其支付2500万美元的罚款，因其不顾银行高管的压力，执意软处理关于伊朗和其他被制裁国家通过东京银行付款的报道。

　　The minutes of the August meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary⁶ Policy Committee revealed a split among its members on interest rates,  据悉英国货币政策委员会在八月的会议上就银行的利率问题未能达成一致意见，

　　with two voting to raise rates and seven against.  其中2名委员认为应该提升利率，而7名委员提出异议。

　　It was the first split in the MPC for more than three years and refuelled speculation⁷ that the bank might lift rates towards the end of this year.  这是英国货币政策委员会首次在长达三年多的时间里还未能达成一致，同时也增加了银行将于今年年底提高利率这一推测的可能性。

　　The minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed a lively debate about the timing⁸ of a rate rise,  美联储七月份会议也就何时升息展开了激烈的辩论，

　　but suggested officials wanted to see more evidence that the American economy has fully⁹ recovered. 但最终决定需要看到美国经济已完全复苏的进一步证据才能下定论。

　　That's a lot of dollars 好多美元

　　A bidding war broke out among America's biggest discount retailers¹⁰ when Dollar General offered to buy Family Dollar in a 9.7 billion offer that trumped¹¹ an earlier tender from Dollar Tree. 在达乐公司向家庭美元商店提出比美元树公司更高的97亿美元的收购要约美国后，最大的几家折扣零售商之间爆发了一场投标大战。

　　The combined revenue of Dollar General and Family Dollar is 28 billion. 达乐公司与家庭美元公司合并后将获得280亿美元的利润。

　　Mad about Modi 对莫迪的迷恋

　　India's benchmark stockmarket index, the Sensex, reached another record high,  在改革派首相纳伦德拉·莫迪发表演说鼓励投资者进行投资后，印度股市的基准敏感指数又创历史新高，

　　as investors¹³ cheered a speech by Narendra Modi, the reform-minded prime minister, outlining the things he would like to do to boost exports and manufacturing.  莫迪在演说中表示他将大力促进商品出口和制造业的发展。

　　But the bullish sentiment sparked by Mr Modi's election could soon fizzle if his government does not deliver on its promises to liberalise the economy. 但他如果未能实现其承诺的自由经济将使莫迪总统大选时带来的牛市化为泡沫。

　　Hewlett-Packard reported that its total revenue had grown in the latest quarter for the first time in 11 quarters, to 27.6 billion.  惠普的最新报告显示：上季度惠普的营业利润实现了近11个季度以来的首次增长，达到276亿美元，

　　The increase was 1%.  增长了1个百分点，

　　It achieved this by a 12% rise in computer sales,  而该营业额的增长是由电脑销售数量增长12%带动的。

　　a market that has wilted¹⁴ as people switch to wireless¹⁵ devices but which may have been boosted by the phasing out of support for Windows XP,  在计算机销售市场上，伴随着无线设备的兴起XP系统逐渐被人们淘汰，

　　prompting companies to invest in new computers. 这将促使计算机公司开发新的机型。

　　China's powerful National Development and Reform Commission levied fines on 12 Japanese manufacturers of car parts or ball bearings.  中国能源促进和改革委员会对日本12家汽车零件或滚珠轴承制造商进行罚款。

　　They are the first penalties to be reported in an investigation¹⁶ into price-fixing for spare parts and services among foreign car companies in China. 他们是中国对零部件及服务定价调查中第一批被公布受罚的外国公司。

　　Hertz's share price fell sharply, after the car-rental company forecast that annual profit would come in well below expectations.  在赫兹汽车租赁公司预测其年收益将远低于预期后，其股价急剧下降。

　　It said business had suffered in part when it was left with a shortage of cars because of a large number of safety recalls from carmakers.  该公司表示此次问题一定程度上是由于大量安全设备被汽车制造商召回从而导致赫兹公司车辆短缺。

　　General Motors supplies Hertz with 28% of its fleet in the US.  赫兹公司在美国28%的车辆由通用汽车公司提供。

　　Carl Icahn, an activist¹⁷ investor¹², has started circling; he disclosed an 8.5% stake in Hertz. 投资者卡尔·伊坎开始回收资金，他将出售赫兹公司8.5%的股份。

　　Mining for profit 矿业经营

　　BHP Billiton confirmed that it will spin off its less-profitable assets into a separately traded company in order to focus on its core ventures in iron ore, copper¹⁸, coal, petroleum¹⁹ and potash.  必和必拓公司宣布为了集中精力经营其核心的铁矿石产业，将分离其获利较低的资产，成立一个单独的贸易公司。

　　The move unravels²⁰ much of the merger²¹ in 2001 between BHP and Billiton.  此举将解决自2001年必和必拓公司和比利顿公司合并以来出现的许多问题。

　　The company has been under pressure from investors, and left many disappointed by not also announcing a share buy-back scheme. 该公司在投资者的施压下也没有公布股份回收计划，这令投资者们非常失望。

　　Glencore, on the other hand, said it would return 1 billion to shareholders²² through buy-backs,  另一方面，嘉能可国际公司宣布将通过股份回购计划向其股票持有者发放10亿美元的收益，

　　as it reaps the benefits from selling a Peruvian copper mine for 6.5 billion and a vigorous commodities-trading business.  因其在销售秘鲁铜矿时获得65亿美元的盈利并且商品贸易势头强劲。

　　Mining companies are having to cope with slow growth, but Ivan Glasenberg, Glencore's boss, contends that the supercycle ain't over. 在其他矿产公司不得不应对盈利缓慢增长的问题时，嘉能可国际公司的总裁伊凡·格拉森博格认为此超周期现象不是结束。

　　Steve Ballmer stepped down from Microsoft's board, having handed over the reins²³ as chief executive to Satya Nadella last February.  微软董事史蒂夫·鲍尔默期满卸任，并于去年2月将董事长职位传予萨蒂亚·纳德拉。

　　Mr Ballmer recently bought the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for an estimated 2 billion. 最近，鲍尔默预计以20亿美元的价格收购洛杉矶快船队。

　　Acknowledging the regulatory challenges it faces, Uber hired David Plouffe, Barack Obama's former campaign manager, to direct its strategy.  尤伯公司承认自身存在监管问题，并聘请了曾担任奥巴马竞选经理的大卫·普罗非，指导其未来战略规划。

　　The car-sharing business now operates in 170 cities around the world but faces stiff resistance from entrenched²⁴ interests, much like Mr Plouffe's old boss. 此次汽车共享的商业活动分布在世界各地的170个城市，但却受到既得利益者的顽强抵制，其中也包括普罗非的那个前老板。

1 levied   

征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税

参考例句：

• Taxes should be levied more on the rich than on the poor. 向富人征收的税应该比穷人的多。
• Heavy fines were levied on motoring offenders. 违规驾车者会遭到重罚。

2 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

3 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

5 softening   

变软，软化

参考例句：

• Her eyes, softening, caressed his face. 她的眼光变得很温柔了。它们不住地爱抚他的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• He might think my brain was softening or something of the kind. 他也许会觉得我婆婆妈妈的，已经成了个软心肠的人了。

6 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

7 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

11 trumped   

v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去分词 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造

参考例句：

• That woman trumped up various baseless charges against him. 那个女人捏造种种毫无根据的罪名指控他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Several of his colleagues trumped up a complaint to get him removed from the job. 他的几位同事诬告他，使他丟掉了工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

13 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

14 wilted   

（使）凋谢，枯萎( wilt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The flowers wilted in the hot sun. 花在烈日下枯萎了。
• The romance blossomed for six or seven months, and then wilted. 那罗曼史持续六七个月之后就告吹了。

15 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

16 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。

17 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

18 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

19 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。

20 unravels   

解开，拆散，散开( unravel的第三人称单数 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚

参考例句：

• Khrushchev's Cold War unravels the tangled contradictions in his leadership of the Communist Party. 赫鲁晓夫的冷战》这本书揭示出赫鲁晓夫作为共产党的领袖，面临着一些棘手的问题。

21 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

22 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

23 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

24 entrenched   

adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯)

参考例句：

• Television seems to be firmly entrenched as the number one medium for national advertising.电视看来要在全国广告媒介中牢固地占据头等位置。
• If the enemy dares to attack us in these entrenched positions,we will make short work of them.如果敌人胆敢进攻我们固守的阵地，我们就消灭他们。