hikeのトレンドは登り坂

hikeという単語は語源不明らしいですが（American Heritage Dictionary）、いわゆるハイキング、動詞ではハイキングにでかける、という意味以外に、価格などの上昇（しばしば急激な上昇を指すようです）を意味するために用いられます。

日本のマスコミでは、欧米諸国と比較してもかなり安い日本のタバコ事情を取り上げ、タバコ増税の議論がやかましいですが、結局タバコ1本につき2～3円の増税に留まりそうなのか、そのような報道を引き金に、何某タバコ会社の株価がこれまでにない上げ幅だったということです。


TOKYO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Shares of Japan Tobacco (2914.T) gained the most in 13 months on Thursday as investors were relieved by a report that the government would hike taxes on cigarettes by less than expected.

The Japanese government plans to raise the tax on tobacco by a few yen per cigarette, Kyodo news agency reported, a much smaller increase than the 10-20 yen anticipated by some market participants.

"It's positive if the tax hike is only 2-3 yen per cigarette, as there have been concerns about a much heftier hike, like pushing up prices to 500 yen a pack or more," said Takeshi Osawa, senior fund manager at Norinchukin Zenkyoren Asset Management.
(UPDATE 1-JT shares jump on report of smaller tax hike. Reuters. December 3, 2009.)


私はタバコを吸いませんので何ともないのですが、愛煙家の方々には嫌な話題でしょうか。