voa标准英语2008-European Markets Up Slightly, Financial Concerns

Following the trend in Asia, European markets rose modestly on Monday amid hopes of a renewed U.S. auto¹ sector² lifeline from the White House and another possible U.S. interest rate cut this week. But the mood is tempered by concerns about possible effects from an alleged³ billion dollar fraudulent investment scheme on Wall Street.
　

Trader floor, London

It is jittery⁴ and volatile⁵ once again on the European markets with traders trying to find a definitive⁶ direction.

On the plus side, hopes of the Bush administration throwing the big three U.S. automakers a short-term loan is helping⁷ the markets, as is the anticipation⁸ of another U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut on Tuesday.

Also helpful, an announcement by China of a multibillion dollar plan to boost consumer confidence there.
　

A woman walks near the entrance of a Banco Santander office in Madrid, Spain, 15 Dec 2008

But on the downside, investors⁹ are looking for overseas damage in the wake of a Wall Street investment scandal involving a former Nasdaq stock exchange chief . Bernard Madoff is accused of defrauding¹⁰ investors of some $50 billion.

In Britain, Banco Santander could stand to lose $3 billion while the Royal Bank of Scotland could see $600 million evaporate if those scandal fears are realized.

The head of trading at CMC Markets here in London, Gary Thomson said given currently tighter market conditions, clients were likely asking more questions about their investments with Madoff.

"Everybody now, particularly when we have come out of a boom period we have and we are coming into what is quite a tough period, everybody gets a little bit more cautious and takes a closer look at what is going on. And that is one of the reasons of course that this scheme has been found," he said.

On the currency markets, the possible U.S. interest rate cut is weakening the dollar, while the British pound is taking a battering¹¹. It is now at its lowest level ever against the euro. With the rate hovering¹² around the parity¹³ level, some are wondering whether now might be a good time for Britain to join the euro. But the government's Europe minister Caroline Flint did not think that would be such a good idea right now.

"I think it would be wrong to suggest that somehow the financial crisis in itself means that we should move to the euro. I do not think there really is evidence for that. We living as I said in exceptional, unique times where it would be wrong to make a judgment¹⁴ based on the environment we are living and working through at the moment," he said.

On the oil markets light, sweet crude for January delivery is up just over two dollars a barrel to above the $48 mark due to expectations that OPEC might announce a production cut later this week.

Also later this week, a raft of new U.S. economic indicators¹⁵ will be released that will be watched closely by the traders overseas.

1 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。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 jittery   

adj. 神经过敏的, 战战兢兢的

参考例句：

• However, nothing happened though he continued to feel jittery. 可是，自从拉上这辆车，并没有出什么错儿，虽然他心中嘀嘀咕咕的不安。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The thirty-six Enterprise divebombers were being squandered in a jittery shot from the hip. 这三十六架“企业号”上的俯冲轰炸机正被孤注一掷。

5 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

6 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

9 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

10 defrauding   

v.诈取，骗取( defraud的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Second is the actor regards defrauding of the wealth as object. 第二，行为人以骗取钱财为目的。 来自互联网
• Therefore, DELL has the motive and economic purpose of intentionally defrauding the Chinese consumers. 因此，戴尔公司存在故意欺诈中国消费者的动机和经济目的。 来自互联网

11 battering   

n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The film took a battering from critics in the US. 该影片在美国遭遇到批评家的猛烈抨击。
• He kept battering away at the door. 他接连不断地砸门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

13 parity   

n.平价，等价，比价，对等

参考例句：

• The two currencies have now reached parity.这两种货币现已达到同等价值。
• Women have yet to achieve wage or occupational parity in many fields.女性在很多领域还没能争取到薪金、职位方面的平等。

14 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

15 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。