VOA标准英语2009年-Nigerian Stocks Tumble as Investors Bail Out

Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest equities¹ market after South Africa has long been an attraction for emerging market investors². But the Nigerian stock exchange has slumped³ to record levels in the past few months, making it one of the worst performing in the world, and feeding worries about the future.

In 2008, the market value of stocks listed on the Nigerian stock exchange declined for the first time in nine years, tumbling 46 percent. Stocks fell 31 percent in January 2009, the world's biggest decline, and the trend is showing no sign of easing.

A Lagos-based stock broker⁴, Patrick Ezeagu, says confidence in the stock market took a severe knock last year following the exit of foreign investors seeking safety amid the global credit crunch⁵.

"Things were going normal until we had this bust," he said. "And I think that the whole thing was precipitated⁶ from outside the system. Because we had some hedge funds that came, which helped to buoy⁷ up the market.

"And then when the West had their own problems, the first thing they did was they go offshore⁸ to divest⁹ and then run home to go and solve their own problem. That going offshore, gave us the first shock we had and other things followed. Because everything was going on well until that happened," he added.

Purchases by foreign investors amounted to $1.2 billion in 2008, compared to more than $2 billion in 2007.

The Nigerian stock exchange has 213 listed equities and a market value of about $46 billion, according to the exchange Web site.

The Nigerian stock exchange said this week it planned to introduce new measures in the first quarter of 2009, as part of moves aimed at attracting foreign investors.

Analysts¹⁰ say Nigerian stocks are unlikely to recover this year, but have huge potential in the longer term, with the country's population of 140 million people representing a largely untapped market.

1 equities   

普通股，股票

参考例句：

• These are invested mainly in the OECD bonds and equities. 这些资产主要投资于经济合作及发展组织的债券与股票市场。
• They are also advantage of the global rebound in equities. 它们还在利用全球股市反弹的机会。

2 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

3 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

4 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

5 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

6 precipitated   

v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀

参考例句：

• His resignation precipitated a leadership crisis. 他的辞职立即引发了领导层的危机。
• He lost his footing and was precipitated to the ground. 他失足摔倒在地上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 buoy   

n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The party did little to buoy up her spirits.这次聚会并没有让她振作多少。
• The buoy floated back and forth in the shallow water.这个浮标在浅水里漂来漂去。

8 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。

9 divest   

v.脱去，剥除

参考例句：

• I cannot divest myself of the idea.我无法消除那个念头。
• He attempted to divest himself of all responsibilities for the decision.他力图摆脱掉作出该项决定的一切责任。

10 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。