VOA标准英语2009年-World Markets Like US Plan to Mop Up Toxic Bank

World markets have responded positively² to a public-private investment program designed to buy up hundreds of billions of dollars worth of questionable³ assets currently on the books of American banks.
　
US Treasury⁴ Secretary Tim Geithner listens during a meeting with US President Barack Obama in the White House, 23 Mar¹ 2009

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner outlined further details of the plan Monday, which would relieve banks of up to a trillion dollars worth of bad debts.

In Asia, the mood was upbeat as the planned purchases of troubled mortgages which lie at the very heart of the credit crisis in the United States had a positive effect on global markets.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei closed 3.4 percent higher on the day to reach a two-month high while shares in Hong Kong jumped 4.8 percent. In Europe, the same positive news from the U.S. Treasury department sent shares up.

While no one is talking in terms of recovery yet, the mood in trading centers such as London is starting to change.

Stephen Pope, the chief market strategist at the global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald says many traders feel the toxic⁵ asset rescue plan is important because it addresses the root cause of the credit squeeze.

"People sense that these plans, these rescue plans, will work otherwise the capitalist system falls apart and that is not going to happen. So, I think now you are beginning to find investors⁶ who are actually a bit overloaded⁷ with money on deposit earning zero percent, are starting to be a little bit more encouraged to go out and put a toe in the water and increase their risk profile," said Pope.

But even though the mood may be slightly shifting, Pope says any true recovery will take time, and during that period things like unemployment can worsen before they eventually turn around.

"The employment indexes are always a lagging indicator⁸ by around six months so if you start to see the stock market front-running up, say, from middle of the second quarter, then it probably means that at the turn of the year is when the general economic pattern begins to improve," Pope said.

The United States was under pressure to unveil the plan to deal with troubled assets before the April 2nd G-20 summit of leading industrialized nations takes place in London.

Although mentioned in broad terms last month, market players have been waiting to see the specific details before embracing the public-private program.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

3 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

4 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

5 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。

6 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

7 overloaded   

a.超载的，超负荷的

参考例句：

• He's overloaded with responsibilities. 他担负的责任过多。
• She has overloaded her schedule with work, study, and family responsibilities. 她的日程表上排满了工作、学习、家务等，使自己负担过重。

8 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。