2007年VOA标准英语-US Markets Open This Week Mixed Following Recor

By Mil Arcega
Washington
24 April 2007
 

New York Stock Exchange opening on 20 April

U.S. stock market indexes opened with slight gains in early trading Monday after a week of record gains.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 150 points on Friday to post its third straight record close in one week.  Although the index of 30 U.S. companies remains¹ at historically high levels, investors³ started the week on a cautious note.

VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

Smiles and applause accompanied Friday's closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange as the Dow ended the week with another record close. The blue chip index came within 40 points of the 13,000 mark after investors reacted enthusiastically to a series of better than expected earnings⁴ reports.  

Market strategist Alan Skrainka explains. "The good news is outweighing⁵ the bad news, and the market is moving higher because the good news is: earnings have been very solid.

Despite a slowing U.S. economy, positive first quarter results from Google, eBay and heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar⁶ helped ease investor² concerns.

Skrainka says the market rally suggests things are not as bad as they seem. "The market was very fearful that the housing industry would send us into a recession. Many of those investors who were worried about a market decline, now are fearful of missing out on this big rally."

But the markets were a bit more cautious Monday.  Some investors are skeptical⁷ the market will be able to extend last week's record streak⁸.

Analysts⁹ say although the major U.S. stock indexes are at their highest levels in six years, many of the same concerns that sent the Dow tumbling two months ago remain: high inflation, a weak dollar and a sluggish¹⁰ housing market.

 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 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。

3 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

4 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%。

5 outweighing   

v.在重量上超过( outweigh的现在分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过

参考例句：

• Consider(sth good or positive)as balancing or outweighing(sth bad or negative) 视（某好的事物）可抵消或抵偿（某坏的事物） 来自互联网
• The accused and accusers all succeed in outweighing the Bible. 原告和被告都成功地通过了第一项测试。 来自互联网

6 caterpillar   

n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫

参考例句：

• A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.蝴蝶是由毛虫脱胎变成的。
• A caterpillar must pass through the cocoon stage to become a butterfly.毛毛虫必须经过茧的阶段才能变成蝴蝶。

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

8 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

9 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。

10 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。