VOA标准英语2012--JP Morgan Losses Bolster Case for New Financial Regulations

JP Morgan Losses Bolster¹ Case for New Financial Regulations

It's one of the world's biggest investment banks, and its CEO is among the harshest critics of government efforts to rein² in risky³ financial bets. But in a late night conference call to shareholders⁴, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon told investors⁵ the bank may have taken too big a risk.

“We are reducing that hedge, but in hindsight, the new strategy was flawed, complex, poorly reviewed, poorly executed and poorly monitored," said Dimon.

Dimon blamed the $2-billion loss on a complex trading scheme that was designed, ironically, to help manage the bank's credit risks. Instead, the trading blunder bolstered⁶ the argument that big banks cannot be trusted to handle risks on their own.

"Well, as he [Dimon] said himself, there's egg on his face [he's embarrassed] and it does play very well, as he says, into the pundits⁷ who have been advocating the Volcker rule and also the scenario⁸ of being too big to fail," said CMC Markets analyst⁹ Brenda Kelly.

The Volcker rule is named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. It would restrict the biggest U.S. banks from making risky investments that do not benefit bank customers. Volcker said such trades involving credit default swaps¹⁰ and other derivatives¹¹ played a key role in the financial crisis of 2008.

"It was elements of a casino, a very complex casino with all sorts of inter-dependencies. And when it came under pressure, not just from credit default swaps but otherwise, when the system came under pressure - it collapsed," said Volcker.

JP Morgan has warned investors to expect additional losses - sending a shiver through Wall Street. JP Morgan stock lost more than 8 per cent of its value. Other financial stocks also suffered big declines.

Analysts¹² fear the scandal will impact regulations not just in the U.S., but around the world.

"Just as it will in the U.S. and in the eurozone, Asia will not be spared this push down the path of greater, tighter regulations," said Tim Condon, who is head of Asia research at ING Financial Markets.

In a statement Friday, U.S. Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, who has been pushing for new banking¹³ rules, said the bank's losses were "a stark¹⁴ reminder¹⁵ of the need for regulators to establish tough, effective standards." 

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

3 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

4 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

5 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

6 bolstered   

v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He bolstered his plea with new evidence. 他举出新的证据来支持他的抗辩。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The data must be bolstered by inferences and indirect estimates of varying degrees of reliability. 这些资料必须借助于推理及可靠程度不同的间接估计。 来自辞典例句

7 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

8 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 swaps   

交换( swap的名词复数 )； 交换物，被掉换者

参考例句：

• He swaps his old car for a new motorcycle. 他用旧车换了一辆新摩托车。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语
• Swaps the anchor and end points of the current selection. 交换当前所选内容的定位点和结束点。

11 derivatives   

n.衍生性金融商品；派生物，引出物( derivative的名词复数 )；导数

参考例句：

• Many English words are derivatives of Latin words. 许多英语词来自拉丁语。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These compounds are nitrosohydroxylamine derivatives. 这类合成物是亚硝基羟胺衍生物。 来自辞典例句

12 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。

13 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

14 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

15 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。