新西兰采取措施控制房地产价格防止过度投机，请看本报昨日的报道：

New Zealand is clamping down on property investors in an attempt to rein in spiraling house prices.

The central bank said Tuesday it will reinstate mortgage lending restrictions March 1 and tighten them further for investors from May 1. Finance Minister Grant Robertson also said Tuesday the government will unveil measures soon to curb housing demand, “particularly from those who are speculating.”

Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Geoff Bascand said, “Highly leveraged property owners, in particular investors, are more prone to rapid ‘fire sales’ that potentially amplify any downturn.”

报道中的fire sale就是“抛售、大减价”的意思，本意指以折扣价出售火灾中受损的物品，引申为“以极低的折扣价出售”。例如：

The fire sale of Bear Stearns, the U.S. investment bank, brought the credit crisis to a new, more dangerous phase.

美国投资银行贝尔斯登低价出售，将信贷危机带入一个更危险的新阶段。