英文版财经新闻

US planemaker Boeing has announced an "historic" order from United Airlines for 150 Boeing 737s, in a deal worth up to $14.7bn.

美国飞机制造商波音公司宣布接到联合航空公司一份“历史性”订单，该订单涉及150架波音737s，价值147亿美元。

The order comprises 100 of the new Boeing 737 Max 9 planes and 50 Next Generation 737-900ER aircraft.

Boeing said the deal meant it had now received more than 10,000 orders overall for aircraft from the 737 family.

Boeing said the 737 was the "undisputed best-selling jetliner in the world".

It said the Next Generation 737 was "the most fuel-efficient and reliable"

single-aisle plane in the market.

The 737 Max, which is a new-engine variant on the Next Generation 737, builds on these strengths, Boeing said, reducing fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions by 13%.

Modern features

"United and Boeing share a rich history together and we are delighted United has chosen the 737 for its future fleet, renewing our partnership for decades to come," said Ray Conner, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Jeff Smisek, chief executive of United, said: "We look forward to offering our customers the modern features and reliability of new Boeing airplanes, while also making our fleet more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly."

United Continental, the parent company of United Airlines, said it would begin taking delivery of the 737 Max 9 planes in 2018.

The 737-900ERs will be delivered from late 2013.

Both planes feature a quieter cabin and brighter lighting, designed to give the impression of more space.

The deal is valued at $14.7bn at list prices, although major airlines like United do not pay list prices.

United Airlines is the world's biggest carrier. In 2011, it flew more than two million flights, carrying 142 million passengers.

Earlier on Thursday, Boeing's European rival Airbus announced a further $6.35bn of potential orders at the Farnborough airshow.

The four deals Airbus has announced so far this week, if completed, would total $16.9bn for 115 aircraft.

Inflation has eased sharply in China, giving policymakers more room to spur economic growth amidst a global slowdown.

中国通货膨胀率急剧下降，这使决策者有更多刺激经济增长的空间。

Consumer price rises cooled in June to 2.2% compared to the previous year, China's statistics bureau said.

That is down from 3% in May and is well below the government target of 4%. China has taken steps to bolster（支持） growth as the global economic crisis weighs on demand for its goods.

Analysts said lower food prices was the main driver of the slowing inflation.

Pork prices, one of the biggest contributors to skyrocketing inflation last year, fell 12.2% from 2011.

Growth steps

China's central bank has cut key interest rates twice since the start of June, with benchmark lending rates down to 6%.

It has also cut the amount of money banks must keep in reserve in an effort to boost lending.

Analysts said they expected more such moves to boost growth from the government going forward.

"A lower consumer price index opens room for further policy easing, which we expect will pick up," said Zhang Zhiwei, chief China economist at Nomura in Hong Kong.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde has said that the organisation's next forecast for global economic growth would be down from the 3.5% predicted in April.

国际货币基金组织主席克里斯蒂娜·拉加德称，其组织对全球经济增长的预期将低于四月份预测的3.5%。