（每日一读）3月高考英语考前突破 阅读理解能力 财经新闻 乌克兰政局动荡引起小麦价格上涨.docVIP

乌克兰燃气价格将上涨50% Ukraines interim government says it will raise gas prices for domestic consumers by 50% in an effort to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid package. 乌克兰临时政府将家庭燃气价格提升50%以确保实施国际货币基金组织的援助项目。 ? An official at Ukraines Naftogaz state energy company said the price rise would take effect on 1 May, and further rises would be scheduled until 2018. ? Ukrainians are accustomed to buying gas at heavily subsidised rates. ? But the IMF has made subsidy reform a condition of its deal. ? Ukraine currently buys more than half of its natural gas from Russias Gazprom, and then sells it on to consumers at below market prices. ? Yury Kolbushkin, budget and planning director at Naftogaz, told reporters that gas prices for district heating companies would also rise by 40% from 1 July. ? IMF negotiators are still in Kiev to negotiate a package of measures worth billions of dollars to help Ukraines interim government plug its budget deficit and meet foreign loan repayments. ? Deal expected ? The IMF is also asking Ukraine to crack down on corruption and end central bank support for the Ukrainian currency. ? On Tuesday, Ukraines finance minister Olexander Shlapak said the country was seeking $15-20bn (￡9-12bn) from the IMF. ? The Financial Times has reported that a rescue package worth about $15bn is close to being agreed, and could be announced as early as Thursday. ? An agreement with the IMF is necessary to unlock further financial support from the EU and US. ? Financial help is urgently required as Ukraine has been forced to plunder its foreign currency reserves, and the economy is expected to contract by 3% this year, according to the countrys finance ministry. ? In the US, arguments in Congress over reforms to the IMF have held up plans to offer Ukraine $1bn in loan guarantees. ? The EU says its financial support, potentially worth 1.6bn euros (￡1.3bn) is contingent on the IMF deal being agreed. Ukraines interim government says it will raise gas prices for d