很多国家的高层经济官员准备降低利率,以刺激陷于困境的全球经济。

人们广泛预计美国联邦储备委员会星期三晚些时候将降低基准利率。中国中央银行刚刚降息, 欧洲中央银行很可能本星期降息。有报导说,日本可能进一步降低已经很低的利率。降息的目的是便于以较低成本借贷消费,扩大工商活动,建造住宅,创造就业机 会,从而拉动经济。

一些投资者为最近一系列防止全球经济衰退的措都而感到鼓舞。东京、伦敦和巴黎股市大涨。香港、德国和纽约的股市略有上涨。各银行越来越愿意拆借,这是显示振兴措施开始生效的又一迹象。伦敦银行同业拆放利率被用来衡量借贷者对坏帐的担忧程度,而这一利率的改善趋势已经持续将近两星期。信贷市场紧缩已经对经济停滞构成威胁。

Top economic officials in many nations are in the process of cutting interest rates to stimulate the battered global economy.

The U.S. central bank is widely expected to cut its key interest rate percent later Wednesday. China’s central bank has just cut interest rates, and the European Central Bank is likely to slash rates next week. And news reports say Japan might reduce its already-low interest rate.The cuts are intended to boost economies by making it cheaper to borrow money to buy the things needed to expand businesses, build homes and create jobs.

Some investors cheered the latest in a long series of efforts to head off a global recession. Stock prices surged in Tokyo, London and Paris. Stocks made modest gains in Hong Kong, Germany, and New York.Another sign that recovery efforts are beginning to help is seen in the increased willingness of banks to lend money to each other. The “Libor” rate measures how worried lenders are that they might not be repaid, and it has been gradually improving (i.e., declining) for about two weeks. Tight credit markets have threatened to stall the economy.