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Oz Blog News Commentary

Canberra has a ciggie butt brain

February 19, 2026 - 13:30 -- Admin

Is there anything our government does right? Having single-handedly created a monster black market valued at $5.6 billion (ranging from $4.1 billion to $6.9 billion), Canberra now wants to take a piece of the action. Up to 1.5 million Australians are predicted to be buying cigarettes on the black market in what has been described

A goldmine of gold charts

February 19, 2026 - 12:30 -- Admin

I have been bullish on gold for a few years, but my view has recently pivoted to “sell the rips”. My reasoning for this is that the drivers of the gold rally have been materially weakened in recent weeks. First, we had the appointment of Kevin Warsh as the successor to the FOMC chair. He

Job creation soft

February 19, 2026 - 12:06 -- Admin

Via the ABS comes Labor Force in seasonally adjusted terms for January 2026: unemployment rate remained at 4.1%. participation rate remained at 66.7%. employment increased to 14,703,800. employment to population ratio decreased to 63.9%. underemployment rate increased to 5.9%. monthly hours worked increased to 2,013 million. full-time employment increased by 50,500 to 10,155,500 people. part-time