Bush: Strong Action Being Taken on US Economy
布什：政府為經濟采取強有力行動
 

President Bush says the U.S. economy is facing challenging times. The president says the government is taking decisive action.

美國總統布什表示，美國經濟面臨富有挑戰性的時期。但是布什還表示，政府正在采取決斷性的行動。

As a jittery U.S. stock market opened for business, the president sought to reassure the American people.

星期一美國證券市場開盤時令人極度緊張不安。

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his top economic advisors, Mr. Bush said his administration is on top of the situation.

布什總統謀求讓美國人民安心。他在跟高層經濟顧問開會后對記者說，他的政府在掌控局面。

"One thing is for certain - we are in challenging times," he said. "But another thing is for certain - that we have taken strong and decisive action."

他說：“有一件事情是肯定的。我們處在富有挑戰性的時期。但是另一件事情也是肯定的，我們正在采取強有力的決定性行動。”

He signaled his support for steps taken in recent days by the U.S. central bank to cut interest rates and to provide financial markets with a sense of stability - in large part by rescuing the crisis-ridden investment firm, Bear Stearns. And he praised Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson for his efforts to promote calm and correct the economic slump.

布什表示支持美國中央銀行最近采取的行動，削減利率，向金融市場提供穩定感，主要手段是拯救危機四伏的貝爾斯登投資公司。布什稱贊財政部長保爾森努力鎮定局面，扭轉經濟衰退。

"You have shown the country and the world that the United States is on top of the situation," he said. "Secondly, you have reaffirmed the fact that our financial institutions are strong and that our capital markets are functioning efficiently and effectively."

布什說：“你們向美國和全世界表明，美國在掌控局面；第二，你們再次證明這樣一個事實，我們的金融機構強勁有力，我們的資本市場在有效運轉。”

President Bush stressed that his administration will continue to monitor the situation and will take additional action, as warranted. He emphasized once again that the fundamentals of the U.S. economy are sound, saying in the long run, everything will be fine.

布什總統強調，他的政府將繼續監視局勢發展，并將采取有根據的額外的行動。他再次強調，美國經濟的基本面是健康的。他說，從長遠來看，一切都會好起來。

His comments - which were added to his schedule on relatively short notice - were aimed at easing economic concerns both at home and abroad. The slump in the U.S. economy - caused in part by problems in the home loan market - has had an impact around the world.

布什的評論是在他的原定日程上額外附加的，而且事先通知的時間很短。這次講話的目的是緩解國內外的經濟關切。美國經濟衰退的部分原因是房屋貸款市場的問題。美國經濟衰退在全世界都造成影響。

Stock prices are down in many countries, the dollar has hit record lows against the euro and the yen, and oil and gold prices have hit new highs.

在許多國家，證券市場都在下跌。美元對歐元和日圓的比價已經下降到創記錄的低點。石油和黃金價格則上升到新的高位。