Appunti personali di inglese

Rielaborazione personale dei testi

Capitolo 1: too volatile for amateurs

The text talks about stock markets in Africa and the article was

written in 1996. It explains that, after a year of instability,

tranquility has returned. The reason that triggered the instability

concerns investors and fund managers who wanted to diversify

their portfolios. This raised shares (questo ha innzalzato i titoli

azionari) and the Kenya stock exchange recorded the best

performance of the year. The increase in shares (l’aumento dei

titoli azionari) was partly caused by the number of local purchases,

before the government rules – relating to foreign participation in

the markets – were loosened (si sono smollate). In 1995 there was

a decline for many markets, while others recovered (mentre altri

si sono ripresi) positively. In Nigeria, bargain hunters (cacciatori di

affari) did not let themselves be discouraged by the country's

poverty scenario: even in this case (anche in tal caso), the stock

market increased. In general, industry data show less volatility: at

the beginning of 1996, Zimbabwe turned out to be the best

performer in the region; the worst were Namibia, South Africa,

Kenya and Botswana. There are no specific reasons for explaining

the increases and decreases in the indices (negli indici azionari),

except in the case of South Africa: in fact, it seems that President

Mandela's heart attack has caused a collapse in the value of the

shares; other causes were the departure of the Minister of Finance

and the withdrawal from the government of the head of the

national party (il ritiro dal partito). This decline has influenced

neighboring markets, such as Namibia; instead, it has caused gains

for Zimbabwe, perhaps because many foreign investors have

transferred their money from the stock market of South Africa to

that of Zimbabwe (è andata male per la Namibia, e bene per lo

Zimbabwe). The Kenyan stock market is recovering well: its

previous decline (precedente declino) was attributed to

consolidation and poor earnings, especially from agriculture

related companies (i benestanti) and local investor sales. This

negative scenario is expecting to change when the new privatized

state carrier will start trading in the Nairobi stock market. As for

Nigeria, growth is advancing, but it seems that investors are more

selective and many of them remain anchored to oil or detergents.

Some subjects warn (alcuni strateghi avvisano che) that investing

in African markets is not for amateurs (principianti): in fact,

brokerage fees are high and staff is not always qualified. However,

it is a scenario in recovery: the president of Asea has informed that

there will be analysis of the investments and of the market

partecipants.

Capitolo 2: Woomera fires up immigration debate

The text talks about an Australian city, and it was written in 2001.

Woomera has always been known for its past: in fact, it was a

launching pad for experimental rockets (fu una piattaforma di

lancio per missili sperimentali). In 2001, the city became the object

of heavy accusations: Australians wondered whether, in an

attempt to dissuade immigrants from going to Australian coasts,

the government was purposely making immigrants, living in places

similar to Woomera, live in inhumane conditions (forse il governo

fa apposta a far vivere male gli immigrati in Woomera affinché gli

altri immigrati siano dissuasi dal venire in Australia). Immigrants

come mainly from China and the Middle East: Australia has

tightened its immigration control measures, granting only short-

term visas for political asylum seekers. Meanwhile, the

government has made the city of Woomera available as a shelter

for immigrants, but the living conditions are disastrous and suggest

an excuse to discourage immigrants from heading to Australia. In

this regard, many groups have intervened to defend human rights.

There are complaints about physical violence, inadequate medical

treatment, psychological violence, especially on children.

According to the director of the Refugee Council of Australia, the

problem concerns families with small children, who risk growing

without knowing life outside the detention centers. The Minister

for Immigration intervened saying that something must be done

for mothers and immigrant children. The debate is taking place

ahead of the 2002 elections and, according to some critics, could

create problems for the government which, in the meantime,

attracts millions of voters supporters of the One Nation party,

opposite to immigration (opposto all’immigrazione).

Capitolo 3: Canada heads towards big budget surpluses

The article dates back to 1999 and it talks about Canada. At that

time, the prime minister of finance announced that the federal

government would record an annual budget surplus of $ 30 billion

over the next five years. This was the first time the government

admitted such a thing. A debate opens up about the possibility of

using these unexpected revenues to reduce the tax burden (carico

fiscale), to intensify a spending program or to reduce the

government's huge debt. The finance minister said he was

reluctant to publish the news on the budget surplus, due to fears

of pressing demands that could precipitate the budget (il ministro

delle finanze si è dichiarato restio a rendere pubblica la notizia

sull'avanzo di bilancio, per il timore di richieste pressanti che

po