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インフレと景気低迷のどちらを重視？ エコノミスト意見が真っ二つ WSJ予測調査
Economists Split on Fears Over Growth, Inflation (WSJ.com)
With the economy weak and prices rising, economists are deeply divided over whether the Federal Reserve should focus more on fostering growth or keeping inflation in check, according to the latest Wall Street Journal forecasting survey.
Of 53 economists surveyed, 22 said the Fed should be more concerned by economic weakness than inflation, while 21 said inflation should be the greater concern. The rest said the risks were equally balanced, or declined to answer.
Many of the economists surveyed have increased their second-quarter growth estimates. That reflects a bigger-than-expected increase in consumption due to the economic-stimulus checks sent out by the government in recent months. On average, respondents now believe that the nation's gross domestic product grew by an annual rate of 1.4% in the second quarter, up from the 0.5% pace they forecast in June. But fewer than one-in-five economists say that the stimulus package prevented a recession; most think it merely delayed one, or had no effect at all.
to foster growth: 経済成長を促す
to concern: ～を憂慮させる
economic-stimulus check: 景気刺激策による税還付
６月の米主要小売売上高、予想以上の既存店売上高 ウォルマートは前年比5.8％増、税還付による効果も
Some Retailers Get Sales Boost As Rebate Checks Reach Taxpayers (WSJ.com)
Retailers posted better-than-expected sales for June as federal rebate checks continued to reach taxpayers last month, with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reporting its biggest same-store-sales increase in several years.
The results contrast with the pressures consumers are facing with $4-a-gallon gasoline and climbing food costs. But sales were seen possibly topping modest expectations, as a number of retailers -- led by Wal-Mart Stores -- did in May, in part because of stimulus-related spending.
The world's largest retailer reported a 5.8% jump, excluding fuel, in U.S. same-store sales for June, smashing the company's forecast last month of 2% to 4% growth. Namesake ...
better-than-expected sales: 予想以上の売上高
same-store-sales increase: 既存店売上高の伸び率
米FRB議長と財務長官、FRB機能強化訴える 住宅金融公社の役割重要
Bernanke, Paulson Push For New Regulatory Powers (WSJ.com)
WASHINGTON -- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tread a fine line before a U.S. House panel Thursday: warning that regulators need more power to deal with ongoing financial market turmoil while also offering assurances to a skittish market, particularly in regards to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
"They play an important role in our housing markets today and need to continue to play an important role in the future," Mr. Paulson told the House Financial Services Committee.
Both he and Mr. Bernanke made a point to stress the importance of the two mortgage finance firms ...
financial market turmoil: 金融市場の混乱
in regards to: ～に関し
to play an important role: 重要な役割を果たす
米GE、家電事業を分離へ 照明も候補、低成長事業の切り離し
GE to spin off consumer and industrial business (FT.com)
General Electric, under pressure from investors to shed slower-growing businesses and lift the conglomerate’s slumping share price, is preparing to spin off its consumer and industrial business to shareholders next year.
The decision comes two months after GE said it would seek buyers for the division’s appliances unit. While Jeff Immelt, GE’s chief executive, had noted that “scaling up” a spin-off to include the lighting and industrial branches of the business was under consideration, he also said the appliances group had drawn inquiries from several potential bidders.
to spin off: ～を分離する
appliances: 家電（の）
under consideration: 検討中である
米ファニーメイとフレディマックの今後、政府が緊急時対策も検討
U.S. Mulls Future of Fannie, Freddie (WSJ.com)
The Bush administration has held talks about what to do in the event mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac falter, according to three people familiar with the matter, as the stock prices of both companies continue to fall sharply.
These discussions have been going on for months and are part of normal contingency planning that the Treasury Department and other financial regulators regularly undertake. The talks have become more serious recently given the financial woes of the shareholder-owned, government-chartered companies, whose stability is vital to the functioning of the nation's housing market, these people say.
The government doesn't expect the entities to fail and no rescue plan is imminent, these people said. Government officials and market analysts expect both companies will be able to raise large amounts of capital relatively easily. Treasury officials are nonetheless talking about what the government could -- or should -- do if Fannie and Freddie become so pressed that they are unable to borrow money and continue operating.
contingency planning: 緊急時対策
vital to: ～に不可欠な
nonetheless: それでも
米住宅ローン借り手救済、法案が上院を通過 下院と拒否権の障害残る
Senate Housing Rescue Bill Edges Closer to Passage (WSJ.com)
WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted resoundingly Thursday to push closer to passage a massive mortgage rescue to help hundreds of thousands of stressed homeowners, even as the bill faced new obstacles in the House.
By a vote of 84-12, the Senate cleared away the last procedural hurdle hindering the measure, putting the election-year aid package on track for approval as early as Thursday afternoon. It is far from complete, however, with House leaders planning to rewrite key portions and the White House still threatening a veto.
The centerpiece of the plan would let the Federal Housing Administration back up to ...
housing rescue bill: 住宅ローンの借り手救済に関する法案
centerpiece of: ～の目玉
米穀物メジャー、カーギルとバンゲ EU当局が手入れ、食糧価格高騰
EU Raids Cargill, Bunge Amid Surging Food Prices (WSJ.com)
European antitrust enforcers raided the Italian offices of grain giants Cargill Inc. and Bunge Ltd. Thursday in a probe of the grain and cereals business as surging food prices around the world are sparking widespread protests.
The European Commission said in a statement that it carried out inspections at the premises of "traders and distributors of cereals and other agricultural products" because authorities had "reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated…rules on cartels and restrictive business practices."
Authorities didn't name the companies targeted, but Cargill, based in Minneapolis, confirmed that its offices in Italy were "visited ...
rules on cartels and restrictive business practices: カルテル・取引制限行為に関する規則
米ワコビア銀、スティール財務次官を新CEOに迎える
Wachovia Taps Treasury's Steel as CEO (WSJ.com)
Hired as Wachovia Corp.'s chief executive late Wednesday, Treasury Undersecretary Robert K. Steel said he hopes to "bring some new seasoning" to solving the challenges at the banking giant.
In an interview, Mr. Steel described Wachovia as "an important institution for its industry and the country. I'm so eager to get to work I can't see straight."
In leading the search for a successor to ousted CEO G. Kennedy Thompson, Chairman Lanty Smith sought to bring to the Charlotte, N.C., bank an outside executive with credibility on Wall Street and in Washington. While Mr. Steel, a former Goldman Sachs Group ...
Treasury Undersecretary: 財務次官
with credibility on Wall Street and in Washington: 政財界から信頼されている
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