Gold ends lower for fourth day as dollar strengthens

CHICAGO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures¹(期货) on the COMEX（纽约商品交易所） Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange further declined on Friday, marking the fourth straight drop this week, as the dollar rallied on improved economic outlook.

The most active gold contract for February delivery dropped 2.8 dollars, or 0.2 percent, to close at 1,368.9 dollars per ounce.

Gold traders mainly attributed Friday's weak sentiment to dollar's strong rally. The euro（欧元） fell to a three-month low against the dollar on Friday. The dollar concluded the biggest weekly gain since August, underpinned² by improving economy and deterioration³ of EU debt crisis.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls⁴ rose by 103,000 in December after a revised increase of 71,000 in the previous month, the Labor⁵ Department reported Friday. The unemployment rate slid to 9.4 percent in the month, the lowest level since May 2009, reflecting gains in jobs and fewer people in the labor force.

The gold market concluded the first weekly decline in three weeks after rallying 30 percent in 2010 for a 10th consecutive⁶ annual gain.

Analysts⁷ noted⁸ that gold price would decline further in the next week as the demand from the safe-haven gold investment would continue to shrink amid improving economy in U.S.

Silver futures for March delivery shed 45.5 cents, or 1.56 percent, to 28.671 dollars. However, April platinum⁹ gained 3.2 dollars per ounce to 1,738.3 dollars.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

2 underpinned   

v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的过去式和过去分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• The report is underpinned by extensive research. 这份报告以广泛的研究为基础。
• The statue of Diana was underpinned with charred piles. Diana雕像是建造在炭化了的木桩上的。 来自辞典例句

3 deterioration   

n.退化；恶化；变坏

参考例句：

• Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
• The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。

4 payrolls   

n.（公司员工的）工资名单( payroll的名词复数 )；（公司的）工资总支出，工薪总额

参考例句：

• Indices of employment, payrolls, and production steadied in February 1931931年2月，就业、工资额和生产指数稳定。 来自辞典例句
• Wall Street responded to the payrolls figures with gusto. 华尔街对就业数据作出了积极的反应。 来自互联网

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

7 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。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 platinum   

n.白金

参考例句：

• I'll give her a platinum ring.我打算送给她一枚白金戒指。
• Platinum exceeds gold in value.白金的价值高于黄金。