降息因應冠狀病毒擔憂
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a percentage point on March 3, its first emergency move since the 2008 financial crisis, to counter the threat to the economy from the coronavirus epidemic.
聯準會3月3日降息0.5個百分點，是2008年金融危機以來首次採取緊急措施，以因應冠狀病毒疫情對經濟的威脅。
counter(n.)櫃台(v.)反對;對抗
It came amid a wild ride on Wall Street and a stream of hectoring from President Donald Trump, who has called for lower rates to stay competitive with the policies of other global central banks.
聯準會降息，正值華爾街市場動盪不安，美國總統川普頻頻威嚇，呼籲降低利率，以保持與全球其它央行政策的競爭力。
a wild ride 非常刺激的旅程或冒險，文章是指華爾街市場大起大落hectoring(n.)威嚇，恐嚇
“The coronavirus poses evolving risks to economic activity,” the Fed said in a statement. “In light of these risks and in support of achieving its maximum employment and price stability goals, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate.”
聯準會發表聲明說：「冠狀病毒對經濟活動構成逐漸形成的風險，鑒於這些風險，並為達到充分就業和價格穩定目標提供支撐，聯邦公開市場委員會決定降低聯邦基金利率的目標區間。」
evolve(v.)進入、演變、逐步發展in light of 考慮到;由於;有鑑於in support of 支援，支撐maximum employment充分就業employment(n.)就業be in employment 就業中、有工作price stability 物價穩定the federal funds rate聯邦基金利率
The vote for the rate cut to a range of 1% to 1.25% was unanimous even though the Fed said in a statement that the “fundamentals of the U.S. economy remain strong.”
儘管聯準會在聲明中表示，「美國經濟的基本面依然強勁」，但是利率降到1％至1.25％的表決一致通過。
unanimous(adj.)意見一致的、表決一致通過的fundamentals of the U.S. economy美國經濟基本面
Investors were not impressed by the Fed’s move. After rallying earlier last week in anticipation of the action, the S&P 500 index fell more than 3% while the 10-year Treasury yield plunged below 1%.
投資人對聯準會的舉措不以為然。上週稍早市場預期聯準會會降息而大漲後，標準普爾500指數大跌超過3％，美國10年期公債殖利率跌破1％。
impress(v.)留下深刻印象impressive(adj.)令人印象深刻的rally(v.)市場大漲(n.)集會an election rally選舉造勢集會plunge(v.)暴跌=tumble
Traders are betting that the Fed will have to do more, with the futures markets pricing additional easing later this year.
交易員認定聯準會還會再降息，期貨市場預料今年稍晚還會有寬鬆的舉措。
bet(v.)打賭，下注bet that子句 敢說;敢確信futures markets期貨市場easing寬鬆貨幣政策
At a news conference, Chairman Jerome Powell acknowledged that the Fed can’t come up with a vaccine or fix a broken supply chain that has been disrupted by the outbreak in China, but he believes the rate cut will help protect against a rapid downturn.
在記者會上，主席鮑爾坦言聯準會無法研製疫苗，也無法修復因為中國疫情爆發而中斷的供應鏈，但他相信降息有助於預防經濟快速下滑。
supply chain供應鏈disrupt(v.)打斷，中斷protect against防止=protect from
“We do recognize a rate cut will not reduce the rate of infection, it won’t fix a broken supply chain. We get that,” Powell said. “But we do believe that our action will provide a meaningful boost to the economy.”
鮑爾說：「我們的確了解降息不會降低感染率，也不會修復中斷的供應鏈，這點我們知道，但我們相信，我們的行動有助於振興經濟。」
boost(n.)(v.)改善、提高、增強boost my confidence增加我的信心
Powell left the door open to another rate cut but stopped short of promising action. He once again dismissed the idea that the Fed succumbs to Trump’s wishes.
鮑爾不排除再度降息，但是沒有承諾採取行動，而且他還是沒有理會聯準會受制於川普意願的說法。
leave the door open可能、不排除stop short of差點做某件事dismiss(v.)對…不予理會、解僱succumb to屈服於