1:The former bookseller accounts for more than half of every new dollar spent online in U.S.
曾經(jīng)的圖書銷售商占據(jù)了美國(guó)一半以上的線上銷售額。
2. Since the beginning of 2015, its share price has jumped by 173%, seven times quicker than in the two previous years. (and 12 times faster than the S&P 500 Index)
自2015年初,他的股價(jià)已暴漲了173個(gè)百分點(diǎn),比前兩年的增速快7倍。(比標(biāo)準(zhǔn)普爾指數(shù)增速快12倍)
3. With a market capitalization of some 400bn, it is the fifth most valuable firm in the world.
全球市值排名第五的公司的市值大概有4000億美元。
4. Never before has a company been worth so much for so long while making so little money: 92% of its value is due to its profits expected after 2020.
此前從未有一個(gè)公司(像亞馬遜一樣)這么長(zhǎng)時(shí)間盈利這么少卻價(jià)值這么高:那是因?yàn)樗俜种攀膬r(jià)值來源于2020年以后所預(yù)估的收益。
5. Walmart already has revenues nudging 500bn and is beefing up online.
沃爾瑪?shù)臓I(yíng)業(yè)額已高達(dá)5000億,而且線上發(fā)展的勢(shì)頭十分強(qiáng)勁。
6. Last year the cash-flow (before investment) was $16bn, more than quadruple the level five years ago.
去年的現(xiàn)金流量(投資前)達(dá)到了160億美元,是五年前的四倍。
7. If it makes as much money as investors hope, a rough calculation suggests its earnings could be worth the equivalent of 25% of the combined profits of listed Western retail and media firms.
如果它的營(yíng)業(yè)額達(dá)到投資商的預(yù)期,那么粗略的估計(jì)它所獲得的利潤(rùn)可能相當(dāng)于西方上市的零售與傳媒公司的利潤(rùn)總和的百分之二十五。
8. Grounds for skepticism does not come more fertile than this: Amazon will have to grow faster than almost any big company in modern history to justify its valuation.
最充分的質(zhì)疑的理由莫過于亞馬遜不得不拼命的發(fā)展,超過現(xiàn)代史上幾乎所有的大公司的發(fā)展速度,以此來為它的價(jià)值正言。
9. In an era when executives routinely whinge about pressure to produce short-term results, Amazon is resolutely focused on the distant horizon.
在這個(gè)管理者們千篇一律地抱怨著為了創(chuàng)造短期效益而帶來的壓力的時(shí)代,亞馬遜堅(jiān)定不移地將眼光放在長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)利益上。
10. Mr. Bezos emphasizes continual investment to propel its principal businesses.
貝佐斯重點(diǎn)強(qiáng)調(diào)利用持續(xù)投資來推動(dòng)亞馬遜的兩個(gè)主要業(yè)務(wù)的發(fā)展。
11. A third virtuous circle is starting to whirl around Alexa, the firm's voice-activated assistant.
第三個(gè)良性循環(huán)是關(guān)于Alexa, 亞馬遜公司推出的語音助手。
12. So long as shareholders retain their faith in this model, Amazon's heady valuation resembles a self-fulfilling prophecy.
只要股東們對(duì)這種運(yùn)營(yíng)模式有信心,那么亞馬遜目前激動(dòng)人心的市值就會(huì)成為自我應(yīng)驗(yàn)的預(yù)言。
13. Their faith is sustained by Amazon's record.
他們能擁有這種信心的背后是亞馬遜領(lǐng)先世界的不敗紀(jì)錄的支持。
14. It has had it failures-- its attempt to make a smart-phone was a debacle. But the business is starting to crank out cash.
它固然有自己失誤-- 涉足智能手機(jī)領(lǐng)域就是一個(gè)最大的敗筆。但好在開始大把大把的賺錢了。
15. If Amazon's approach to time-frames is unusual, so too is the sheer breadth of its activities.
如果說亞馬遜在“時(shí)間模式”上的策略是不走尋常路的話,那它旗下所涉足的領(lǐng)域之寬也是非同一般啊。
16. A wingspan this large is more reminiscent of a conglomerate than a retailer, which makes Amazon's share price seem even more bloated: stock markets typically apply a "conglomerate discount" to reflect their in-efficiencies.
正因?yàn)樗孀愕念I(lǐng)域如此之廣,使得它更像是一個(gè)多元化的企業(yè)集團(tuán),而不單單是零售商。這讓亞馬遜的股價(jià)愈發(fā)言過其實(shí)了:股票市場(chǎng)最愿意拿“多元化折讓”來反映這種大型的企業(yè)集團(tuán)的低效率了。
17. Seen through this lens, Amazon appears pristine.
從這個(gè)角度來看,亞馬遜還算是一片凈土。
18. Consumers applaud it; it is the most well-regarded company in America, according to a Harris poll.
顧客們對(duì)它稱贊有加;根據(jù)哈里斯的一項(xiàng)民意調(diào)查顯示它算是美國(guó)最受歡迎的公司了。
19. If it gets anywhere close to fulfilling it, it will attract the attention of regulators.
如果它步步為營(yíng),想盡辦法的實(shí)現(xiàn)它的目標(biāo),那么與此同時(shí)也會(huì)引起監(jiān)管人員的注意。
20. But as it grows, so will concerns about its power.
但是隨著它的擴(kuò)張,人們對(duì)它的勢(shì)力范圍的擔(dān)憂也隨之增加。
21. Investors value Amazon's growth over profits; that makes predatory pricing more tempting.
投資商們看重的是亞馬遜的發(fā)展空間而非目前的企業(yè)利潤(rùn),因此這種掠奪性的定價(jià)就更吸引人了。
Bit by bit Bob had nudged Fritz into selling his controlling interest...
鮑勃一步一步勸說弗里茨賣掉了他的控股權(quán)益。
...a little-known stage play writer and actress who was nudging 40 and going nowhere...
一個(gè)年近四旬、一事無成、寂寂無聞的舞臺(tái)劇作者兼演員
mount:VERB 動(dòng)詞組織;發(fā)起;開展 If you mount a campaign or event, you organize it and make it take place.
【語法信息】:V n
The ANC announced it was mounting a major campaign of mass political protests.
非洲人國(guó)民大會(huì)宣布他們正在開展一次大規(guī)模政治抗議活動(dòng)。
He insured himself against failure by treating only people he was sure he could cure...
他僅僅治療有把握治愈的病人,以使自己免于失敗。
For protection against unforeseen emergencies, you insure your house, your furnishings and your car...
為了防范不可預(yù)見的緊急情況,人們給房子、家具和汽車上保險(xiǎn)。
Proposed legislation affecting bird-keepers has been watered down.
影響?zhàn)B鳥者的立法提案的措詞已經(jīng)緩和一些了。
實(shí)時(shí)銀行轉(zhuǎn)賬Real-Time Bank Transfers:消費(fèi)者使用網(wǎng)銀購物時(shí)使用。如iDeal, Sofort Banking, eNets, Przelewy24, Safetypay。
線下銀行轉(zhuǎn)賬Offline Bank Transfers:消費(fèi)者在購買過程中會(huì)收到一個(gè)序列號(hào),隨后可以登錄網(wǎng)銀并用序列號(hào)支付。如Dineromail, SafetyPay。
貨到付款Cash on Delivery:在印度、中東和一些東南亞國(guó)家較常見,并非一種適用于全球的方案。
直接借記Direct Debits:主要用于低值或頻繁的交易,常規(guī)且可預(yù)測(cè)的交易,如訂閱費(fèi)。但有欠款拒付的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。如SEPA DD, ELV。
電子發(fā)票eInvoices:消費(fèi)者可以在貨到后使用電子發(fā)票,而無需分享其信用卡或銀行細(xì)節(jié)。這就像使用電子郵件和郵政編碼支付一樣簡(jiǎn)單。如Klarna, AfterPay。
電子錢包eWallets:既方便又安全,在各個(gè)行業(yè)都在快速普及。消費(fèi)者既可以使用儲(chǔ)值也可以選用接入電子錢包的其他支付類型,便利又靈活。如Alipay, Tenpay, PayPal, Qiwi, Yandex.Money。
事后付款PostPay:當(dāng)消費(fèi)者在網(wǎng)上選擇一件商品,他們可以隨后在線下商店或賣場(chǎng)支付貨款。由于在下單和付款之間有時(shí)間延遲,此方式不太適合時(shí)間敏感型交易或易腐敗的商品。如Konbini, Boleto,Bancario。
預(yù)付PrePay:在開始交易之前,消費(fèi)者需要事先購買一張卡或券。這些卡通常不屬于銀行卡系統(tǒng)(如Visa)。多數(shù)使用prepay方式的商品有金額限制,且在單次交易中不能使用多張卡/券。如paysafecard, NeoSurf。
預(yù)充值卡Pre-Paid Cards:這些卡也在銀行卡系統(tǒng)中,如Visa。這些卡可用來購物或提款,就像借記卡或信用卡一樣。核心區(qū)別是他們需要提前充值,充值額即花費(fèi)上限。這些卡常給無銀行賬戶或無法設(shè)立銀行賬戶的年輕人使用,或是信用記錄不良的人。
借記卡Debit Cards:在美國(guó)常被稱為asset card,在英國(guó)常被稱為payment card
信用卡Credit Cards。
簽帳卡Charge Cards:簽帳卡并非信用卡,最大差別在于限制消費(fèi)者的還款方式。簽帳卡在消費(fèi)限額上較有彈性,使用者少有刷爆之危險(xiǎn),是常刷卡大筆金額之持卡人的最佳工具。但若使用者刷卡金額突增或持卡歷史過短,亦有可能被拒?,F(xiàn)今市場(chǎng)上,簽帳卡一般被認(rèn)定比信用卡更具身份表征。它們的入會(huì)費(fèi)及年費(fèi)通常也比信用卡高出許多。簽帳卡必須于繳款期限內(nèi),全數(shù)繳清,不能像信用卡般,使用循環(huán)信用來延后部份款項(xiàng)之付款。如多數(shù)American Express cards。
其他Others:如運(yùn)營(yíng)商短代、比特幣等。
電子錢包將超越信用卡份額,美英澳法日韓移動(dòng)支付額最高
支付寶這種電子錢包增幅最大,且會(huì)成長(zhǎng)為最主要的支付方式。信用卡和借記卡都會(huì)少量增長(zhǎng),但相對(duì)市場(chǎng)份額會(huì)被電子錢包擠壓。銀行轉(zhuǎn)賬和貨到付款也會(huì)有些增長(zhǎng),但都不是全球普適型支付方式。PrePay增長(zhǎng)很快,但絕對(duì)規(guī)模比較小,亦非普適型支付方式。
New European payments regulation has the potential to shake up the banks.
新型歐洲支付管控具有重組銀行體系的潛力。
European rules will open the door to a host of innovative services that analyze transactions.
歐洲支付服務(wù)指令引起一系列能分析銀行業(yè)務(wù)的創(chuàng)新服務(wù)。
Customers need barely ever interact with their bank.
顧客幾乎不需要和銀行直接打交道。
European retail banking has been remarkably unscathed by technology-driven disruption.
歐洲零售銀行業(yè)在這場(chǎng)科技驅(qū)動(dòng)的革新中神奇的安然無恙。
Fintech companies are beginning to mount a challenge, most conspicuously in the online-payments industry in northern Europe. But their reach is more limited elsewhere in Europe.
金融科技公司開始形成挑戰(zhàn),最顯著的是在北歐在線支付領(lǐng)域。但是他們的覆蓋范圍在歐洲其他地區(qū)有限。
Regulators, however, are about to transform the landscape.
但是管控者計(jì)劃轉(zhuǎn)變當(dāng)前形勢(shì)。
Banks’ lockhold on payments serves as a handy source of income.
銀行對(duì)支付領(lǐng)域的鎖定是他們收入的便捷來源。
Resistance is manifested as a concern about data protection. Such concerns are legitimate but also, argue fintech supporters, offer a convenient excuse for banks to block competition.
銀行對(duì)金融科技的反抗表現(xiàn)為他們對(duì)于用戶數(shù)據(jù)保護(hù)的擔(dān)憂。這些擔(dān)憂是合理的,
但是在金融科技者看來,也讓銀行業(yè)借這個(gè)理由阻礙競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。
Yet for all their complaints, customers still trust banks with their money.
雖有抱怨,但是用戶依然在自己財(cái)產(chǎn)方面信任銀行。
become overdrawn:透支
nudge them to save more:敦促他們節(jié)省更多 ?鼓勵(lì)他們?cè)黾觾?chǔ)蓄,nudge有沒有很眼熟?
have easy access to:很容易獲得?便于……
kick-start competition:重啟競(jìng)爭(zhēng)?引發(fā)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)
give explicit consent明確準(zhǔn)許?明確同意
one-click bank transfer:一鍵銀行轉(zhuǎn)移?一鍵轉(zhuǎn)帳
low-value payments:小額支付
tighten up security:增強(qiáng)安全性?加強(qiáng)安全
guide them toward:指引他們前往?引導(dǎo)他們…
rich data:豐富的數(shù)據(jù)
leave them in a weaker position:讓他們更脆弱?使他們處于不利地位
robust data-protection system:穩(wěn)健的數(shù)據(jù)保護(hù)系統(tǒng)?強(qiáng)大的數(shù)據(jù)保護(hù)系統(tǒng)
insured against losses from fraud:上保險(xiǎn)以防欺詐導(dǎo)致的損失?投保以防欺詐造成的損失
physical payment 線下支付
perfect on paper:字面上完美?理論完美!暗示實(shí)際操作起來可能困難重重。
team up with:合作?與….合作
exploit newcomers technology:利用金融科技者的技術(shù)?利用后來者的技術(shù)
文章內(nèi)容圍繞New European payments regulation -PSD2,說明金融科技公司和零售銀行業(yè)的關(guān)系,兩者是相互依存制約的關(guān)系。因?yàn)槿鄙傧鄳?yīng)的顧客信息群、熟悉性以及低投資成本等因素,金融科技公司帶來的顛覆(disruption)暫且不能完全替代銀行業(yè)。但是隨著PSD2的實(shí)施(2018年開始),對(duì)銀行業(yè)信息的強(qiáng)制分享,歐洲金融科技將會(huì)有進(jìn)步。最重要的是讓兩者合作,取長(zhǎng)補(bǔ)短共同進(jìn)步。在我看來監(jiān)管是一把雙刃劍,法規(guī)不僅需要與時(shí)俱進(jìn),更關(guān)鍵的是如何在鼓勵(lì)創(chuàng)新和控制金融風(fēng)險(xiǎn)間取得平衡;
我覺得通過這次的精讀,學(xué)到了對(duì)于觀點(diǎn)零散的文章,首先分析每一段的重要觀點(diǎn),重點(diǎn)關(guān)注第一段和最后一段,看是否有首尾呼應(yīng),或者轉(zhuǎn)折等關(guān)系,一般第一段和最后一段里就是文章重點(diǎn)論述的對(duì)象,再串聯(lián)起整個(gè)文章,不斷完善思維導(dǎo)圖。
篤師這次的好詞好句翻譯翻得超級(jí)精妙,我過于糾結(jié)于已有的單詞,發(fā)現(xiàn)翻譯根據(jù)最佳角度可以換詞或加詞,讓句子意思更飽滿。