外幣商品 Currency Trading Investments 

對於定存族來說，死守台幣僅2%的利率，實在沒搞頭，因此，近幾年財富管理銀行都會建議客戶做一些外幣定存。事實上，當保守的定存族比較過外幣與台幣利率的差別後，通常都會開始動作，從台幣定存轉進高利率外幣定存。回顧2006年，在國人最常買進的外幣商品中，表現最好的是英鎊，利差加匯差1年報酬率可達17.4%；排名第2的是歐元，報酬率為13.25%；另外，第3名的澳幣也有12.1%的獲利率。

For persons investing in time deposit, the 2% interest rate available for the New Taiwan Dollar offers very little revenue, and as a result, wealth management banks have in recent years encouraged their customers to place their time deposits in foreign currencies. In actual fact, once conservative investors compare the interest rates available, they generally move into action and shift their deposits to a high-interest foreign currency. In 2006, the best performer among the foreign currencies favored by local investors was the British Pound (GBP) with a one-year rate of return of up to 17.4% through a combination of interest-rate and exchange rate spreads. The euro came second at 13.25%, while the Australian dollar,(AUD) came in third at 12.1%. 

總結專家的看法，2007年定存族想要在外幣穩穩獲利，幾個高息貨幣，包括美元、澳幣、紐幣、英鎊都還是主要選擇標的。上半年英鎊、澳幣、紐元可以進場，下半年美元有機會。但是要提醒定存族的是，因為匯市變化快速，往往一個政策就會讓強弱貨幣豬羊變色，因此外幣定存期間最好就定在1個月，最長則不要超過3個月。這樣才能保持彈性，隨時換掉弱勢貨幣、轉進強勢貨幣。如果能夠靈活操作，那麼今年除了穩賺高息外，還有匯差可以期待。

A summary of expert opinion indicates that in 2007, time-deposit investors looking for steady returns should focus on high-yield currencies such as the US dollar (USD), the AUD, the New Zealand dollar (NZD) and the British pound. The GBP, AUD and NZD seem promising in the first half of the year, while the USD shows opportunities in the second half. It is important to recall, however, that the foreign exchange market is a volatile one, and a simple statement of policy can change a bull into a bear. For this reason, time deposit investments of one month – or a maximum of 3 months – are advised so as to maintain maximum flexibility in switching from weaker to stronger currencies at will. Persons who perform these operations with proper agility can earn not only high rates of interest but also benefit from the shifting tides of foreign currency spreads. 

carry the can =a scapegoat = to bear responsibility for sth. usually unjustly

the targets of choice, the currencies of choice

otaku御宅族  a gamer, an internet recluse

nerd, geek

定存 time deposit

買賣價差 bid/ ask spread

歐元 euro (不加s)        ex. 40 euro

GBP = the pound sterling