B2 – Upper Intermediate
The US stock market rose slightly as the trading week ended. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq each gained 0.3%. However, investors remained cautious because of fluctuating oil prices, inflation, and rising interest rates.
Read the article to know more about US markets closing out the week with strong gains.
https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-ai-bonds-5d0f953dbf96febb0690c1aef23fa8a9
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to yo-yo” mean here: “The strength came as oil prices continued to yo-yo because of uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or a similar expression.
Give a synonym or a similar expression. - What does “to eke out” mean? “Delta Air Lines erased an early loss and eked out a tiny gain of less than 0.1% after reporting profit and revenue for the summer that was slightly weaker than analysts expected.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or a similar expression.
- What does “swing” mean here: “On Wall Street, Humana rallied 11.6% and helped lift the U.S. stock market despite the swings in the oil and bond markets.”? Use it in a sentence in this context. Give a synonym or a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Does a record-setting stock market mean that ordinary citizens are becoming wealthier? Why or why not?
- Why do you think the U.S. stock market can continue to rise even when other financial markets remain uncertain?
- 3How can changes in the U.S. stock market affect your country’s economy and the daily lives of the citizens?
- Do you think investing in stocks during a market rally is a smart decision or a risky one? Why?
- How important is it for ordinary people to understand financial news and stock market trends?