(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
US Move to Raise Interest Rates Could Have a Big Effect
The United States central bank raised its main interest rate Wednesday for the third time this year. The rate increase could affect not only the U.S. economy, but economies around the world.
Experts say the move could mark the end of what has been called the central bank's "accommodative" policy. That monetary policy was put in place after the international financial crisis 10 years ago. With it, bank officials sought to fuel economic growth through low interest rates and big loans.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank raised its federal funds rate to between two and 2.25 percent. Big, private banks pay this rate for short-term loans from the Federal Reserve, but it affects many other kinds of loans.
Economic measures remain strong
Observers note that almost all important measures of the U.S. economy are strong. From April to June, the economy grew at a faster-than-expected rate of 4.2 percent. Nationwide, unemployment remains near a record low of 3.9 percent. And consumer confidence measures, which show Americans' willingness to spend, have reached their highest level in 18 years.
Low unemployment means the country has a shortage of workers and pay is likely to increase.
The Associated Press reports that Federal Reserve policymakers believe wages will increase in the coming months. That will put pressure on the group that controls the U.S. monetary policy, the Open Market Committee. The committee might feel pressure to raise interest rates to reduce the risk of high inflation.
Raising interest rates makes borrowing more costly. This usually slows economic growth. But it can also increase the value of U.S. money on foreign exchange markets.
The strength of the American economy has already caused the value of the U.S. dollar to rise in other areas.
That could hurt countries like Turkey.
This month, the Turkish central bank increased its main interest rate by more than six percent in an effort to stop the fall in value of Turkey's currency, the lira.
But the lira has lost nearly 40 percent of its exchange value against the dollar this year.
Argentina, South Africa and Indonesia are just some of the other countries facing big drops in their currencies.
Effects of the U.S.-China trade dispute
Adding to these concerns is the trade dispute between the United States and China. On Monday, the U.S. government enacted import tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods. China has answered by announcing new taxes on $60 billion in American goods. Trade talks set for October have been cancelled.
Officials at the Asian Development Bank, based in Manilla, do not believe the trade dispute will affect growth in East Asia this year. But the bank predicts growth will fall from 6 percent to 5.8 percent in 2019.
The bank also predicts that the trade dispute could reduce China's economic growth by .5 percent and U.S. growth by .1 percent.
I'm Susan Shand.
重点解析
1.interest rates 利率
Low interest rates are bad news for savers.
低利率对于储蓄者来说是个坏消息。
2.trade dispute 贸易争端
If there is a trade dispute, we will submit the claim to the arbitration committee for settlement.
一旦发生贸易争端，我们将把索赔案提交给仲裁委员会解决。
3.economic growth 经济增长
High interest rates have stunted economic growth.
高利率已经阻碍了经济的增长。
4.import tariffs 进口关税
China has scrapped import tariffs on steel plates.
中国取消了钢板的进口关税。
5.That monetary policy was put in place after the international financial crisis 10 years ago.
put in place 落实到位；实施
The restrictions have been put in place, after a five-day national strike.
这项法令是在该国遭受了五天的全国性罢工后颁布的。
On the reforms front, China has put in place the basic structure for a market economy.
在改革方面，中国已经实施了市场经济的基本框架。
6.Low unemployment means the country has a shortage of workers and pay is likely to increase.
a shortage of 短缺
In both cases the problem was insolvency, not just a shortage of liquidity.
两者的问题都是资不抵债，而不仅仅是流动性短缺。
Even when the economy is bad there is a shortage of good programmers.
即使在经济不好的情况下，好的程序员总是缺少的。
参考译文
美国第三次加息或造成重大影响
周三，美国央行上调了主要利率，这是今年以来第三次加息。加息不仅会影响美国经济，也会影响全球经济。
专家表示，该举措可能标志着央行所谓的“宽松”政策的结束。10年前，国际金融危机之后开始实施这一货币政策。根据这一政策，银行官员试图通过低利率和大额贷款推动经济增长。
周三，美联储将联邦基准利率上调至2%到2.25%。大型私人银行从美联储申请的短期贷款将按照该利率支付，不过它会影响到许多其它类型的贷款。
经济指标仍然强劲
观察人士指出，美国经济的几乎所有重要指标都很强劲。从4月到6月，美国的经济增长高于预期，达到4.2%。全国的失业率仍然接近3.9%的历史低点。消费者信心指数显示美国人的消费意愿达到18年来的最高水平。
低失业率意味着美国的劳动力短缺，工资可能会上涨。
美联社报道称，美联储的政策制定者相信，未来几个月工资将会上涨，这将为公开市场委员会带来压力，该机构控制着美国货币政策。
该委员会可能会受到加息以降低通胀风险的压力。
提高利率会导致借贷成本增加。这通常会减缓经济增长，但是加息也会提高美元在外汇市场的汇率。
美国经济的稳健导致美元在其它地区已经升值。
这可能会伤害到土耳其等国。
本月，土耳其央行将其主要利率提高了6%以上，以阻止土耳其货币里拉贬值。
而里拉兑美元的汇率今年已下跌近40%。
阿根廷、南非和印尼也身处其它面临货币大幅贬值的国家之列。
中美贸易争端的影响
中美之间的贸易争端加剧了这些担忧。周一，美国政府宣布对价值2000亿美元的中国商品征收进口关税。作为回应，中国已宣布对价值600亿美元的美国商品加收关税。原定于10月份的贸易谈判也被取消。
总部位于马尼拉的亚洲开发银行官员认为，贸易争端不会影响今年东亚地区的经济增长，但是该银行预测，2019年的经济增长将从6%降至5.8%。
该行还预测，贸易争端可能会让中国的经济增长下降0.5%，美国的经济增长下降0.1%。
苏珊·尚德为您播报。
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