澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-04-25
时间：2018-12-11 作者：英语课 分类：澳洲ABC新闻快递2012年
英语课
A benign 1 inflation reading has most economists 2 now expecting the Reserve Bank will cut the cash rate by 50 basis points by the middle of this year. Inflation rose just 0.1 per cent for the March quarter, and the annual rate is now well below the Reserve Bank's target range. The bureau says food prices fell by 30 per cent. Holiday travel also declined, as did household goods like electricals and furniture. This was slightly offset 3 by a significant price rise in the cost of pharmaceuticals 4 and education. Fuel, health care and rent saw smaller rises.
Turning to market reaction now, and Australian dollar was savaged 5 by the inflation data. It's now worth below 103 US cents. The local share market gave up most of the gains made on the back of the inflation figures because of worries about Europe. The ASX 200 rose eight points.
Looking at the sectors 6, and retail 7 giant Wesfarmers rose on a positive sales report. Resort stocks came under pressure while Westpac led the big four banks higher. Weak growth figures and political instability in Europe is weighing on Asian markets and on commodities as well. Gold has been under pressure throughout trade.
1 benign
adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的
- The benign weather brought North America a bumper crop.温和的气候给北美带来大丰收。
- Martha is a benign old lady.玛莎是个仁慈的老妇人。
2 economists
n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )
- 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 offset
n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿
- Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
- He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。
4 pharmaceuticals
n.医药品；药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 )
- the development of new pharmaceuticals 新药的开发
- The companies are pouring trillions of yen into biotechnology research,especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds. 这些公司将大量资金投入生物工艺学研究，尤其是药品和新种子方面。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 savaged
（动物）凶狠地攻击（或伤害）( savage的过去式和过去分词 )； 残害； 猛烈批评； 激烈抨击
- The horse threw its rider to the ground and savaged him. 那马将骑马者摔在地上，乱踢他。
- The drink had savaged him. 酒使他变得野蛮。