BEC中级阅读：对美国经济衰退的担忧令亚太股市暴跌

亚太地区股市昨日面临新一轮抛售，因投资者持续担忧美国经济将步入衰退。

Stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region were buffeted by a fresh wave of selling yesterday amid persistent fears that the US was heading into recession.

香港股市收盘下跌逾5%，创2001年9月以来的最大单日跌幅。这标志着市场已从去年的高点下跌逾20%，这种跌幅通常被定义为熊市。

Hong Kong closed more than 5 per cent lower, its biggest one-day fall since September 2001. This marks a drop from last year’s high of more than 20 per cent, the common definition of a bear market.

香港恒生指数(Hang Seng)下跌5.4%，报收24,450.85点，而中国企业指数（Index of China Enterprise, 或H股指数）下跌6.6%。

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 5.4 per cent to 24,450.85, while the index of China enterprise stocks, or H shares, fell 6.6 per cent.

中国内地公司的股票未能免受美国经济低迷的拖累。在中国内地公司股票中，中海油(CNOOC)下跌8.4%，收于12.18港元，中国移动(China Mobile)跌4.6%，报收119港元。

Shares of mainland Chinese companies were not immune to the US gloom. Among mainland Chinese stocks, oil group CNOOC fell 8.4 per cent to HK$12.18 and China Mobile dropped4.6 per cent to HK$119.

上证综合指数下跌2.8%，报收5,290.61点，原因是内地金融及地产类股追随港股走势。

Shanghai’s composite index fell 2.8 per cent to 5,290.61, as mainland financial and property stocks took their cue from Hong Kong.

澳大利亚股市连续第八个交易日下跌——为7年多以来连续下跌最长的时间，而韩国股市则创下5个月新低。

Sydney declined for an eighth successive session – its worst losing streak for more than seven years - while Seoul closed at a fresh five-month low.

在东京，日经225种股票平均指数(Nikkei 225 Average)下跌3.4%，收盘报13,504.51点，为2005年10月以来最低收盘点位。覆盖面更广的东证指数(Topix)下跌3.5%，收于1302.37点。

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Average was down 3.4 per cent to 13,504.51, its lowest close since October 2005. The broader Topix index shed 3.5 per cent to 1,302.37.