Gold rose to a record high of $3175.07 per ounce as concerns over global tariffs continued to drive investors to seek safety in the precious metal, despite easing US inflation data. US equities fell while bonds rebounded, with traders pricing in expectations for three or possibly four interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. The Trump administration’s tariff uncertainties have fueled scepticism about timely trade talks, supporting gold’s haven status and 21% rally this year.
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Paul Murray: State Budget surpluses haven’t been planned, they’re the result of a run of historic luck
Rita Saffioti, facing a challenging week due to significant cost overruns in government IT projects and concerns over the usability of Metronet railcars, is managing a budget that will increase the state's debt from $28.3 billion to $42.5 billion by 2028-29, despite predicting cash surpluses. Critics highlight that her financial management, buoyed by inflated revenues from iron ore and a favorable GST deal, fails to control rising debt levels, emphasizing her reliance on luck rather...
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