Some of our biggest economic indicators are sending mixed signals, while demand for durian is on the rise.
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00:00If our uneven economy doesn't make sense at the moment, that's fair enough.
00:07Take the price of gold.
00:09It's been surging in the past few years, even more so recently, to a new record high overnight.
00:16It's considered a safe store of value in times of crisis and uncertainty.
00:21But we've been shredding economic norms.
00:24Because at the same time, markets have been booming too.
00:28In the US, they're near record highs, riding the turbulence of the new pro-business president.
00:34Even Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, which is an indicator of China's economy, is up,
00:39despite talk about a looming global trade war between the global superpowers.
00:45Our market just closed at its second highest level, with big jumps for the banks that,
00:50again, are a barometer of how we're all doing, and if we'll be able to keep paying
00:55our mortgages in future.
00:58The strength of our currency remains a concern, although we remain well above parity with
01:02New Zealand as it grapples with its stuttering post-COVID economy.
01:07Not much movement on the commodities markets beyond a slide in the iron ore price.
01:12Gold still shining, as we discussed.
01:15And there's another boom in durian.
01:18You might have seen the distinctive fruit in Australia, but it's more likely in Asia,
01:22where it's very popular.
01:24If you've ever smelt it, you'll never forget it.
01:27It's so pungent, it's banned on public transport in some countries, but world demand keeps
01:33rising.
01:34And that's finance.