http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/30/auditors-we-may-never-kno_n_162655.html

WASHINGTON — We may never know whether the government's $700 billion bailout of the financial industry worked, according to a new report from congressional auditors. That's because it will be impossible to sort out which of the government's spending and other tinkering has made a difference, according to the report released Friday by the Government Accountability Office.

"The lack of a clearly articulated vision has complicated Treasury's ability to effectively communicate to Congress, the financial markets, and the public on the benefits of TARP," the report said.

sort out 〈…を〉分類する

tinker 〔…を〕下手に修繕する，(修繕のつもりで)下手にいじくり回す

articulate 〈考え・論旨など〉明確な，理路整然とした.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b1a4abfa-eead-11dd-bbb5-0000779fd2ac.html

Of the Y150bn Mizuho lopped off from its forecast net earnings for the year, Y80bn was due to higher credit costs suffered in the third quarter and expected in the fourth quarter.

“It’s hard to glean too many positives from these results,” said Jason Rogers, analyst at Barclays in Singapore.

However, Mr Rogers said Japanese banks were likely to have to raise even more capital in the form of common shares, as the dire economic situation led to increasing non-performing loans.

lop 〈…を〉削る 〈off，away〉

glean 〈情報・事実・知識などを〉(苦労して少しずつ)収集する 〔from〕

dire 恐ろしい，ものすごい; 悲惨な

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/30/exxon-mobil-reports-recor_n_162468.html

In the fourth quarter alone crude tumbled 60 percent, prompting spending and job cuts in an industry that was reporting robust, often record, profits as recently as last summer.

With piles of cash and diversified operations, the majors like Exxon Mobil have fared better than many smaller oil and gas companies, but Friday's results show no one is completely insulated from the ongoing malaise.

Exxon Mobil said it bought 119 million shares of its common stock in the quarter at a cost of $8.8 billion. Roughly $8 billion of that amount was dedicated to reducing the number of shares outstanding; the balance was used to offset shares issued as part of the company's benefit plans.

prompt 〈人・行動を〉刺激する

robust 〈経済など〉健全な

insulate 〔…から〕隔離する

malaise 沈滞

dedicate　ささげる

Disney's TV Unit To Cut 400 Jobs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/29/disneyabc-tv-unit-to-cut_n_162417.html

The job reductions, to be implemented in the coming months, were the latest announced at the family entertainment company, which is grappling with weak consumer sentiment and a declining advertising market.

Last week, Disney's parks division also offered voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives and gave them until Feb. 6 to opt in.

Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said in November the company was seeking to pare costs across the company to keep pace with worsening economic conditions.

grapple 〔難問・困難などに〕取り組む 〔with〕

opt 選ぶ

pare 〈費用などを〉少しずつ減らす，削減する

UBS bankers told bonuses will be cut by 80%

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1a823942-ee6f-11dd-b791-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

One banker said employees were "shocked" at the news that the compensation pool would probably be less than SFr2bn ($1.7bn) - a fraction of the award for 2007.

Wall Street firms cut payments for 2008 by 44 per cent, the second straight decline after two record years, according to New York state estimates. Bank of America is planning to defer bonus payments to some investment banking staff this year.

UBS's approach to bonuses has been influenced by the Swiss government and a backlash to the rescue of the group. UBS had the highest losses from the credit crisis of any European bank.

fraction 少量

defer 延期する

backlash 跳ね返り