◎俞智敏
Some U.S. pawnbrokers are taking liquid assets - literally.
美國有些當鋪現在可以接受流動資產，一點都不假。
Along with family jewels and fine art they will accept wines as collateral for loans to help ease cash shortages of businesses and people on all rungs of the economic ladder.
除了祖傳珠寶與藝術品外，這些當鋪願接受用紅酒當作抵押品，以協助各種經濟地位的企業與個人紓解現金缺少的困難。
"You’d be amazed by how many wealthy individuals have terrible credit ratings," said Jordan Tabach-Bank, head of Beverly Loan Co. in Beverly Hills, California.
「如果你知道多少有錢人的信貸評等其實糟糕透頂，一定會很驚訝，」加州比佛利山的比佛利貸款公司老板塔巴赫班克說。
"And besides, if you go to a bank, it can take weeks or months to get a loan. When we make a loan, it’s usually the same day."
「此外，如果你向銀行借錢，可能要費時數週或數月才能拿到貸款。如果跟我們借錢，通常當天就能拿到錢。」
The pawnshop for the prosperous lends to hedge-fund managers, bankers, lawyers, doctors and even Oscar winners.
富人當鋪會借錢給避險基金經理人、銀行家、律師、醫師或甚至是奧斯卡金像獎得主。
USGoldBuyers.com, an online pawnbroker with an office in New York, will also accept fine wines, said spokesman Jose Caba, adding that the rich do not always have liquid assets to keep up with their expensive toys.
在紐約設有辦公室的網路當鋪USGoldBuyers.com同樣也願意接受高級紅酒當抵押。發言人卡巴說，他強調，有錢人手邊的流動資產不一定都能跟得上他們所愛的昂貴玩具價碼。
British-based pawnbroker, borro.com, recently lent $120,000 in exchange for 128 bottles of Chateau d’Yquem, which had an estimated worth of $250,000.
英國當鋪borro.com 最近就用估計價值約為25萬美元的128瓶伊肯堡名酒當抵押，借出了12萬美元。
Credit Municipal de Paris, which has been offering loans against fine wines, champagnes and aged spirits since 2008, can keep more than 90,000 bottles in its 18th century wine cellar. (Reuters)
巴黎市立信用當鋪則自2008年起，就開始接受顧客用高級紅酒、香檳及陳年烈酒等當貸款抵押品，其建於18世紀的酒窖可以存放逾9萬瓶酒。
（路透）
新聞辭典
liquid asset：名詞，指容易變現的流動資產（如現金等），如She has very few liquid assets as most of her wealth is tied up in stocks and shares.（她大部份的財產都被套牢在股市，手邊幾乎沒有什麼流動資產。）
collateral：名詞，指擔保品，抵押品，如She put up her house as collateral for a loan.（她把房子拿來當作貸款的抵押品。）
the rung on the ladder：片語，指在社會或職場中的地位，如In our society, a nurse is hardly on the same rung of the ladder as a judge.（在我們的社會中，護士與法官的社會地位幾乎不可能相等。）
本文引用至http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=569048&day=2012-03-18
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