Markets Overview

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Economic Events

  • 10:30: (AU) Australia to Sell A$500 Million 98-Day Bills
  • 10:30: (AU) Australia to Sell A$1 Billion 112-Day Bills
  • 10:30: (AU) Australia to Sell A$500 Million 154-Day Bills
  • 11:30: (AU) 3Q NAB Business Confidence, prior 5
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. Part Time Employment Change, prior -25,300
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. Full Time Employment Change, prior 58,800
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. Employment Change, est. 25,000, prior 33,500
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. Participation Rate, est. 66.6%, prior 66.6%
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. RBA FX Transactions Market, prior A$658m
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. RBA FX Transactions Government, prior -A$690m
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. RBA FX Transactions Other, prior -A$303m
  • 11:30: (AU) Sept. Unemployment Rate, est. 3.5%, prior 3.5%

Other News

A slice of fruit cake served at King Charles and the Princess of Wales’ wedding is now for sale – 41 years after the famed 1981 ceremony watched by millions.

The rectangular portion – which has hardly deteriorated despite the decades passed – is thought to have come from the bottom layer of the impressive five tier dessert.

It was given to Nigel Ricketts, who served as the French polisher in the Royal household at the time and kept a piece – in its original presentation box – for the rest of his life.

A handwritten thank-you letter from the new monarch – then Prince – and his former bride is also available, addressed to members of the Royal household staff.

This slice has a pre-sale estimate of £300 while the letter is valued at £150.

The lid of the small container has the Prince of Wales’ insignia along with the initials C and D in calligraphy writing and ‘Buckingham Palace 29th July 1981.’

Mr Ricketts died earlier this year and an expert from Dore and Rees Auctioneers of Frome, Somerset, was called to his home in Westbury, Wiltshire, to value some items.

He found the wedding cake still wrapped in its doily and grease-proof paper inside the box.

Despite its age, the piece has hardly deteriorated, probably preserved by the large amount of alcohol that was used to make it – with the sale set to take place tomorrow.

In total, 23 official cakes were made for the wedding, including a centrepiece 5ft tall layered fruitcake weighing 225lbs.

In 2014, a slice of it was sold for $1,375 (£990) in an auction held in Los Angeles, California.

(Daily Mail)