[by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.56]The Japanese yen has risen to its highest value [00:05.80]in relation to the United States dollar in one and one half years. [00:13.12]The yen is increasing in value on foreign exchange markets; [00:18.60]yet Japanese finance officials have supported policies aimed at limiting its rise. [00:26.36]The appreciating value of the yen [00:30.28]could hurt Japan's efforts to increase inflation in the country. [00:36.24]Some experts think rising prices could strengthen economic growth [00:42.20]in the world's third largest economy. [00:46.44]Japan's money has traded at about 111 yen to one U.S. dollar in recent days. [00:56.04]The yen has also risen in value against other major currencies, including the euro. [01:03.92]The yen's value has increased almost nine percent on foreign exchange markets this year. [01:12.72]That is the biggest increase among the Group of 10 industrial countries during that period. [01:20.48]The group includes Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. [01:30.40]The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States are also members. [01:39.72]The Group of 10 has agreed to cooperate on economic and monetary issues [01:46.92]with the International Monetary Fund. [01:51.44]Japanese officials have said they may be willing to take additional measures [01:56.48]to fight the rising value of the yen. [01:59.96]Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga [02:05.11]said the government is closely watching changes in foreign exchange values. [02:12.08]The governor of Japan's central bank, Haruhiko Kuroda, [02:17.24]has repeatedly said that the Bank of Japan may cut interest rates it controls. [02:24.80]Demand for widely traded currencies like the yen [02:28.80]often increases when stock prices drop. [02:32.68]That can cause the value of such currencies to rise on international markets. [02:40.36]However, the Bloomberg News service reports that the currencies of [02:45.48]commodity-exporting countries like Australia [02:49.36]and South Africa have dropped in value. [02:53.36]Such countries sell a large amount of agricultural products [02:58.48]and unprocessed minerals to overseas buyers. [03:03.64]The Bank of Japan is seeking to raise inflation to a target rate of two percent a year. [03:11.96]The bank has increased the amount of money available to private Japanese banks. [03:18.68]The Bank of Japan also has set a negative interest rate [03:23.16]for the money commercial banks hold with it. [03:27.20]Both moves are meant to encourage banks to lend more to businesses and individuals. [03:36.20]However, Japan's rate of inflation remains near zero percent. [03:42.48]That can be a sign of limited demand for goods and services. [03:50.00]The Swiss franc has also increased in value against the U.S. dollar. [03:56.28]That increases the cost of the country's exports [04:00.36]and may hurt Switzerland's economic competitiveness. [04:05.28]The president of Switzerland's central bank [04:08.48]said his bank's policy of negative interest rates [04:12.52]has been "indispensable" for limiting the rising value of the franc. [04:19.12]I'm Mario Ritter. [04:21.44]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM