VOA标准英语2010年-Super Wealthy Foreigners Boost London

London has long been one of the first stops for the world's super-wealthy.  The recent global economic downturn, however, saw the foreign investors¹ go quiet.  Now after two years of holding back, they've returned with a vengeance², buying up luxury properties in the British capital.  Russian oligarchs are competing against Middle Eastern royalty³ and Nigerian oil executives for a slice of the London market.

In the garden of a $14 million mansion⁴, the gentle sounds of the fountains make this spot seem a long way from the city.  In fact it's just a few miles to central London.  Real estate agent to the super-rich, Trevor Abrahamson, says properties like this have helped lift the London market.

"Essentially⁵, London leads the world," said Abrahamson.  "In fact, if you look at New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, the south of France - at the higher end those markets are taking much longer to recover."

 

Prime Properties

The property that's attracting most attention has the prestigious⁶ address of One Hyde Park.  It's a strikingly modern development set among the grand Victorian buildings of west London.  A penthouse here recently sold for a British record of $220 million.  The buyer's identity is kept secret but the agents report huge interest from the Middle East and Nigeria on the back of high oil prices.

The property is equipped with bullet proof glass, an air purifier to prevent poison gas attacks, and a panic room - features designed to appeal to security-conscious foreign buyers.

There's also an underground tunnel to the neighboring Mandarin⁷ Oriental hotel where the staff are on hand 24 hours a day, and the local shops include luxury department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

Trevor Abrahamson says that alongside the traditional buyers from the Middle East and Russia, new investors are opening their wallets.  "We've had almost every nationality.  The newest has been China.  We've had some serious enquiries, literally⁸ 50 or 80 million pounds sterling⁹ for a single property."

Competitive Shopping

A recent survey of luxury goods in London showed an increase in prices for the first time since 2007.  The cost of fine wine and caviar has soared by 25 percent in a year.  Ronnie Armist is director of investment advisors¹⁰ Stonehage, which conducted the survey.  He says the weakness of the pound plays a big part.

"That has definitely attracted foreigners to the UK, and to London in particular, which is one of the great capitals of the world as we know," said Armist.  "They would add, to some degree, to the demand for these luxury items.  We're talking in particular things like sporting events, Wimbledon, or grouse¹¹ shooting, or the Royal Opera House and other cultural events."

In the competitive world of wealth, there's one potential trophy¹² that's made all the headlines.  Regent Street is one of London's most famous shopping districts and owners Crown Estates have put it up for sale.  Total price is estimated at $2.5 billion.  It's reported that various sovereign wealth funds - including the Qatari royal family - have been eyeing the deal.

For most people in Britain, the long struggle out of recession goes on, with high unemployment and slow growth.  They can only look on with envy as the super-rich return to London ready to spend some serious money.

 

1 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

2 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

3 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

4 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

7 Mandarin   

n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的

参考例句：

• Just over one billion people speak Mandarin as their native tongue.大约有十亿以上的人口以华语为母语。
• Mandarin will be the new official language of the European Union.普通话会变成欧盟新的官方语言。

8 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

9 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

10 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

11 grouse   

n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦

参考例句：

• They're shooting grouse up on the moors.他们在荒野射猎松鸡。
• If you don't agree with me,please forget my grouse.如果你的看法不同，请不必介意我的牢骚之言。

12 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。