VOA标准英语2013--美国政府关门第一天全球市场反应平静

 

Global Markets Calm on First Day of US Government Shutdown 美国政府关门第一天全球市场反应平静

On Tuesday, financial markets, by and large, shrugged¹ off the first U.S. government shutdown in 17 years.  Analysts² believe the shutdown is likely to be short-lived but others worry a prolonged stand-off could wreak³ havoc⁴ on the global economy. 

周二,金融市场,总的来说,美国政府在17年来首次关闭。分析人士认为,关闭很可能是短暂的,但其他人担心长期对峙可能会对全球经济造成严重破坏。

While the back and forth⁵ continued in Washington, “The House has made its position known very clearly," said Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner.

“Madame President, it is embarrassing," said Democratic Leader of the Senate Harry⁶ Reid.

Financial markets around the world watched from the sidelines, waiting for cooler heads to prevail.

“I think the market is convinced that a deal eventually will be reached but right now they are really in wait and see mode," said market strategist Mike Ingram.

If resolved quickly, many investors⁷ believe the economic impact of the government shutdown will be minimal⁸.  Investment manager Patrick Armstrong says the danger lies in not knowing when.

“The longer it does drag on the more impact it will have, because it will have consequences on consumer confidence, the unemployment rate kicks up as you’ve got government workers who aren’t employed," he said. "And it will probably create a bit more uncertainty⁹ about the budget crisis that’s looming¹⁰ at the middle of this month as well."

He’s referring to the country’s $16.7 trillion debt.

Unless Congress reaches a deal on raising the debt limit this month, the U.S. Treasury¹¹ says the country will run out of money to pay its debts.  

Economist¹² Eric Chaney says the longer the political stand-off continues, the greater the risk that people who hold U.S. Treasury bonds  will not get paid.  

“If the government shutdown in the U.S. lasts more than a week, people will start to think that “Okay, the deadline for the debt ceiling, which is around the 17th of October is not going to be met,” he said. "In that case, the risk is a risk of default.  And I think in that case, we might have a very negative reaction."

If that happens, analysts say the dollar’s value will fall, interest rates will rise and the U.S. could see another credit downgrade.   

The prospect¹³ of a U.S. default is especially troubling in Asia, where stock prices were rising on manufacturing gains.  

South Korean TV newscasters voiced the concerns this way:

“If the United States federal government’s temporary shutdown is prolonged, not only America but the world’s economy could be affected¹⁴ negatively.”

Still, European stocks were mostly higher Tuesday.  

And on Wall Street - where stock prices have fallen in seven of the past eight sessions - investors took advantage of bargain prices, sending major indexes into positive territory.  

Analysts predict the trajectory¹⁵ will change the longer the U.S. budget crisis continues.

1 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 wreak   

v.发泄；报复

参考例句：

• She had a burning desire to wreak revenge.她复仇心切。
• Timid people always wreak their peevishness on the gentle.怯懦的人总是把满腹牢骚向温和的人发泄。

4 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

5 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

6 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

7 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

8 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

9 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

10 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

11 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。

12 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

13 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

14 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

15 trajectory   

n.弹道，轨道

参考例句：

• It is not difficult to sketch the subsequent trajectory.很容易描绘出它们最终的轨迹。
• The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.抛物体所循的路径称为它的轨道。