VOA慢速英语: 2014年一些出人意料的经济新闻
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Some Surprises Among Economic Stories in 2014
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In this Dec. 16, 2014 file photo, a man walks by a sign advertising currencies of an exchange office in Moscow, Russia. Lower oil prices and economic sanctions have damaged Russian economy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File ) |
2014年一些出人意料的经济新闻
Some of the major economic stories of 2014 were surprises. Today, we tell you about a few of them. But, we also want to know which economic stories were important to you this year.
2014年的一些经济新闻很出人意料。今天，我们就来讲述其中的一些。但是我们也想知道今年哪些经济新闻报道对你最重要。
First on our list, is the unexpected drop in the price of oil that began in June.
首先是六月份石油价格出乎意外的下降。
Oil Prices Decrease
石油价格下降
Often, low oil prices fuel growth, but this year the price drop has helped some countries while hurting others.
通常，石油价格上涨，但是今年的石油价格下跌对一些国家有利，但同时也损害了另一些国家的利益。
Increased American oil production is one reason for the drop in world oil prices. The drilling method called hydraulic fracturing developed in the U.S. has helped make the increase possible. Recovering fossil fuels from rock shale has also increased supplies in the U.S.
美国石油产量的增加是世界油价下降的一个原因。美国开发的水力压裂钻井技术帮助美国尽可能多的生产更多的油。从岩页层中获取矿物燃料也增加了美国的能源供应。
Experts say slowing economies in China and in Europe have reduced demand for oil. Increasing supply and decreasing demand usually result in falling prices.
专家称中国和欧洲的经济发展放缓也减少了石油需求。供应不断增加而需求减少导致价格下降。
In the past, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has reacted to price drops by decreasing production. But this year that did not happen. At OPEC’s meeting in November, members chose to leave production levels unchanged.
过去，石油输出国组织通过减少石油生产来应对石油价格下降。但是，今年，这种做法不能起作用了。11月欧佩克会议上，成员国选择保持生产规模不变。
Russian Economy Slows from Oil Prices, Sanctions
由于石油价格和制裁的影响，俄罗斯经济放缓，
The huge drop in the price of oil this year helped create another major story: Russia’s slowing economy. Russian officials said they expect the country’s economy to shrink in 2015, or go into recession. Two reasons for this are reduced income from oil sales and the effects of restrictions placed on Russia because of its actions in Ukraine.
今年石油价格的大幅下降导致另一件事：俄罗斯经济发展放缓。俄罗斯官员称他们预计2015年，经济发展会收缩，甚至出现衰退。出现这种情况有两种原因：石油出口收入减少，因为俄罗斯对乌克兰采取的行动而遭到的制裁。
The exchange rate for Russia’s currency, the ruble, has dropped sharply against the dollar. In mid-December, the European Union agreed to increase sanctions against Russia. They include restrictions on finance and tourism in Crimea.
俄罗斯货币：卢布的汇率，兑换美元大幅下跌。12月中旬，欧盟一致同意对俄罗斯进行制裁。这些制裁措施包括对金融和对克里米亚地区的旅游的制裁。
US Economy Shows Signs of Improvement
美国经济呈现上升趋势
The U.S. economy showed signs of strengthening this year. The Department of Commerce updated the most recent measure of the economy. It said the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 5 percent from July to September.
今年，美国经济发展势头强劲。美国商务部更新最近采取的经济措施。美国经济从7月到9月，增长了5%。
The Dow Jones Industrial Index extended above 18,000 in 2014. That is the highest level ever for the widely reported measure of stock market value.
2014年，道琼斯工业指数达到18000，是股市市值采取措施有史以来最高水平。
In other financial news, the U.S. central bank ended its last round of the program known as quantitative easing in October. The program by the U.S. Federal Reserve System bought trillions of dollars of securities. Experts says the program helped support the U.S. economy and kept interest rates low.
其它金融新闻，美国中央银行结束了最后一轮十月份的量化宽松政策的计划。这个项目由联邦储备体系购买数万亿的证券。专家称这个计划有助于支持美国经济发展，保持低利率。
Also, the face of America’s central bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, changed in 2014. The Senate confirmed Janet Yellen to lead the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in January. She is the first woman to lead the nation’s central bank in its 100-year history.
美国中央银行，联邦储备体系在2014年都做出改变。1月份，参议院证实珍奈特·耶伦担任联邦储备体系理事会主席。她是国家中央银行成立100年以来的第一位女性主席。
Other Economic Events…
其它经济事件…
Hilton Worldwide announced it was selling the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City to a Chinese company for $1.95 billion. The buyer – Anbang Insurance Group – offered one of highest prices ever for a U.S. hotel. Hilton Worldwide says it will use the money from the sale to buy other hotels in the United States. The Chinese buyer has said it will invest in remodeling the property on Park Avenue to bring it back to its “historical grandeur.”
希尔顿酒店集团宣布以19亿5千万美元的价格向中国公司出售位于纽约的著名的华尔道夫酒店。购买者——安邦保险集团给出的价格最高。希尔顿酒店集团称会用这笔钱来购买美国其它的酒店。而中国购买商称会投资改建公园大道，使其重现“历史壮观景象”。
The ride-sharing company Uber faced legal actions in several countries. The Indian government called for all unregistered taxi services to halt operations in December. The order came after an Uber driver reportedly raped a woman in New Delhi, the capital. Uber uses a mobile app to link drivers and people seeking a ride.
乘车共享公司优步面临多个国家采取的法律行动。12月份，印度政府要求没有注册的出租车服务暂停运营。发布这项命令是因为优步公司司机在首都新德里强奸一名女性。优步使用一款移动APP来连接司机和需要打车的人。
Uber has faced or is facing bans in Germany, Spain, India, and Thailand. France recently said it plans to block Uber services that use non-professional drivers. Uber competes with established taxi services in many cities around the world.
优步在德国、西班牙、印度和泰国已经或正面临禁令。近期，法国称计划阻止使用非职业司机的优步服务。优步公司与全球多个城市的出租车服务进行竞争。
Most recently, reports say government lawyers in South Korea have brought charges against the American founder of Uber. The Seoul prosecutor's office brought charges against Uber’s chief Travis Kalanick for violating a law banning unlicensed taxi services.
最近有报道称：韩国的政府律师已经控告美国的优步公司。首尔的检察办公室已经指控优步的首席执行官特拉维斯·卡兰尼克，违反法律，并禁止无执照的出租车服务。
Those are only a few of the major economic stories this year. Tell us what you think were the most important stories in the U.S and around the world. Send an e-mail to learningenglish@voanews.com.
这只是今年的一些主要的经济事件。告诉我们你认为的最重要的故事，可以给我们的邮箱发邮件learningenglish@voanews.com.
I’m Mario Ritter.
我是马里奥·瑞特。
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
securities – n. plural, evidence of ownership that has financial value, such as a stock or bond; a financial contract
sanctions – n. an action taken to persuade a country to obey international law
unregistered- adj. officially placed on a list of people or groups permitted to carry out some kind of activity
app – n. (short for application) a computer program often used in connection with mobile technology
Some Surprises Among Economic Stories in 2014
|
|
In this Dec. 16, 2014 file photo, a man walks by a sign advertising currencies of an exchange office in Moscow, Russia. Lower oil prices and economic sanctions have damaged Russian economy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File ) |
Some of the major economic stories of 2014 were surprises. Today, we tell you about a few of them. But, we also want to know which economic stories were important to you this year.
First on our list, is the unexpected drop in the price of oil that began in June.
Oil Prices Decrease
Often, low oil prices fuel growth, but this year the price drop has helped some countries while hurting others.
Increased American oil production is one reason for the drop in world oil prices. The drilling method called hydraulic fracturing developed in the U.S. has helped make the increase possible. Recovering fossil fuels from rock shale has also increased supplies in the U.S.
Experts say slowing economies in China and in Europe have reduced demand for oil. Increasing supply and decreasing demand usually result in falling prices.
In the past, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has reacted to price drops by decreasing production. But this year that did not happen. At OPEC’s meeting in November, members chose to leave production levels unchanged.
Russian Economy Slows from Oil Prices, Sanctions
The huge drop in the price of oil this year helped create another major story: Russia’s slowing economy. Russian officials said they expect the country’s economy to shrink in 2015, or go into recession. Two reasons for this are reduced income from oil sales and the effects of restrictions placed on Russia because of its actions in Ukraine.
The exchange rate for Russia’s currency, the ruble, has dropped sharply against the dollar. In mid-December, the European Union agreed to increase sanctions against Russia. They include restrictions on finance and tourism in Crimea.
US Economy Shows Signs of Improvement
The U.S. economy showed signs of strengthening this year. The Department of Commerce updated the most recent measure of the economy. It said the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 5 percent from July to September.
The Dow Jones Industrial Index extended above 18,000 in 2014. That is the highest level ever for the widely reported measure of stock market value.
In other financial news, the U.S. central bank ended its last round of the program known as quantitative easing in October. The program by the U.S. Federal Reserve System bought trillions of dollars of securities. Experts says the program helped support the U.S. economy and kept interest rates low.
Also, the face of America’s central bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, changed in 2014. The Senate confirmed Janet Yellen to lead the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in January. She is the first woman to lead the nation’s central bank in its 100-year history.
Other Economic Events…
Hilton Worldwide announced it was selling the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City to a Chinese company for $1.95 billion. The buyer – Anbang Insurance Group – offered one of highest prices ever for a U.S. hotel. Hilton Worldwide says it will use the money from the sale to buy other hotels in the United States. The Chinese buyer has said it will invest in remodeling the property on Park Avenue to bring it back to its “historical grandeur.”
The ride-sharing company Uber faced legal actions in several countries. The Indian government called for all unregistered taxi services to halt operations in December. The order came after an Uber driver reportedly raped a woman in New Delhi, the capital. Uber uses a mobile app to link drivers and people seeking a ride.
Uber has faced or is facing bans in Germany, Spain, India, and Thailand. France recently said it plans to block Uber services that use non-professional drivers. Uber competes with established taxi services in many cities around the world.
Most recently, reports say government lawyers in South Korea have brought charges against the American founder of Uber. The Seoul prosecutor's office brought charges against Uber’s chief Travis Kalanick for violating a law banning unlicensed taxi services.
Those are only a few of the major economic stories this year. Tell us what you think were the most important stories in the U.S and around the world. Sendan e-mail to learningenglish@voanews.com.
I’m Mario Ritter.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
securities – n. plural, evidence of ownership that has financial value, such as a stock or bond; a financial contract
sanctions – n. an action taken to persuade a country to obey international law
unregistered- adj. officially placed on a list of people or groups permitted to carry out some kind of activity
app – n. (short for application) a computer program often used in connection with mobile technology
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