通用电气与贝克休斯将达成300亿美元的合并交易。请看本报昨日的报道：

    Industrial giant General Electric Co. and oilfield services company Baker Hughes, both beset by difficulties during oil’s two-year price rout, may have a clear path out of the doldrums: join forces.

    GE said late Thursday it was in discussions with Baker Hughes Inc. but not to acquire the company outright.

    Baker Hughes said Friday talks were ongoing. Both companies declined to comment on the talks beyond official statements.

    GE’s oil and gas division has fought to get the scale the conglomerate enjoys in other industries. Despite efforts to grow through a series of acquisitions, the division has faced weaker revenues during oil’s downturn than other units of GE. Organic growth in oil and gas has lagged other sectors.

    报道中的out of the doldrums就是“走出低

    迷”。Doldrums是“赤道无风带、萧条、郁闷”的意思。