澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-01-04

 And Germany has recorded a slower unemployment rate in 20 years. The jobless rate in December fell to 6.8 percent, that's down slightly from the 6.9 percent recorded in November.

The number of people unemployed¹ in Germany during 2011 topped more than 41 million people, a record high since the country's unification in 1990. The economists² are warning Germany's economic growth is expected to slow in the coming year, putting further pressure on jobs.

 

China's Premier³ Wen Jiabao has warned of a difficult start to year amid rising concerns over a sharp slowdown in the economy. He's reiterated⁴ his pledge to expand domestic demand to try to ward⁵ off the effects of the downturns in both the United States and Europe.

 

China's economy grew by an estimated 9 percent last year, down one percent on the previous year.

 

Let's go to the markets. The Dow Jones has just closed 179 points higher. The Nasdaq gained 44 points. The S&P 500 was up 21 and in London, the FTSE closed 128 points higher.

 

Checking commodity prices now. West Texas Crude is trading at $102.99 a barrel. Tapis Crude is at $118.61 a barrel and Gold is at $1602.89 an ounce. The Australian dollar has firmed. It's now buying 103 US cents, 79 euro cents and 66 pence sterling⁶.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

5 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

6 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。