benchmark 復習

内閣府が16日に発表した2015年7月〜9月期の国内総生産は年率換算で0.8％減少し、2期連続のマイナス成長であることが分かりました。

Japan's economy falls back into recession again

Japan's economy has fallen into recession again after it shrank 0.8% on an annualised basis in the third quarter.
The preliminary data means the world's third-largest economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter, marking a technical recession.
Growth was expected to decline after it fell a revised 0.7% in the second quarter on weak domestic demand.
Japan has been in recession four times since the global financial crisis.
On a quarterly basis, growth fell 0.2% in the third quarter from the previous one, weaker than forecasts of a 0.1% decline.
〈中略〉
Despite the declining growth, the government is positive that a recovery is underway.
"While there are risks such as overseas developments, we expect the economy to head toward a moderate recovery thanks to the effect of various (stimulus) steps taken so far," economics minister Akira Amari said in a statement.
But in reaction to the growth figures, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 1.1% to 19,372.98 points in early trade in Tokyo.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34829408

今回取り上げる表現は “benchmark”です。G4（大修館書店）では「水準基標、水準点」「（価値判断などの）基準」と書かれていました。LDOCEでは “something that is used as a standard by which other things can be judged or measured”とあります。

ベンチマークはもはやカタカナ言葉として日本に入ってきております。もともとは測量において利用する水準点を示す表現であり、転じて金融、資金、資産運用や株式投資における指標銘柄など、比較のために用いる指標を示すようです。（Inaho）

以前にも先輩方が取り上げられています。
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20130517/1368729585
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20130517/1368729585