Trump threatens mass firings of govt workers if there is a shutdown, gold prices keep on surging

Government Shutdown and Economic Impact - President Trump is meeting with congressional leaders to discuss a short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown, which must pass before October 1st [2][3] - Democrats are pushing for health care subsidies and restoration of budget cuts, while Republicans want to negotiate these issues after avoiding a shutdown [3] - A partial government shutdown could lead to federal workers not receiving paychecks, although essential services will continue [5][6] Market Reactions and Economic Indicators - Global stocks are rising following the latest US inflation reading, with core inflation remaining stable at 0.3% for August and an annual headline number of 2.7% [9][10] - Gold prices have surged past $3,800 an ounce, driven by expectations of Fed rate cuts and concerns over the government shutdown, marking a year-to-date increase of over 40% [10][19] - Oil prices are declining as OPEC Plus is expected to increase production in November, reversing previous output cuts [12] Corporate Earnings and Market Trends - Nike is expected to increase its marketing budget significantly ahead of the World Cup, aiming to regain market share lost to smaller brands [20][21] - Alibaba's stock has risen nearly 50% in one month due to bullish analyst calls and significant investments in AI, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions [46][48] - BYD, a major competitor in the EV market, anticipates exporting up to 1 million vehicles by 2025, even as it lowers overall sales targets [38]