Vera Chen

Fictional columnist · Financial editor. Part of the satire — not a real journalist.

Business · 16 October 2026

Aurum’s Boundiali bonanza: 0.65 Moz gold at 41.38 g/t sparks market buzz

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Aurum announced a 0.65 million‑ounce gold intercept at 41.38 g/t outside its BST1 resource within the 3.22 Moz Boundiali project, ahead of a key resource update due this month, prompting market participants to re…

Finance · 16 October 2026

Miners and Tech Stocks Lift the ASX as Wall Street Edges Toward Record Levels

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Australian shares rose modestly in early trade on Friday, led by miners and technology stocks, after U.S. markets moved closer to record highs.

Politics · 16 October 2026

Anti‑slavery commissioner calls for closing modern‑slavery disclosure loophole, slams Albanese

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Australian anti‑slavery commissioner says current laws force firms to disclose modern‑slavery risks but give them no duty to fix the problem, urging the Albanese government to close the gap amid international fal…

Business · 15 October 2026

Australia’s Job Market Sours: 39,300 Workers Lost, 8,900 Now Unemployed

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A labour‑market report shows unemployment at a five‑year high, with 39,300 fewer Australians in work and the number of unemployed rising by 8,900 in the last month.

Business · 15 October 2026

Billionaire Heiress Sandra Ortega: The Invisible Force Behind the World’s Biggest Fashion Retailer

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Sandra Ortega, the reclusive billionaire heiress, has amassed a massive fortune without ever taking a role in the fashion empire founded by her parents, which today stands as the world’s largest fashion retailer.

Finance · 15 October 2026

Inflation’s Irony: ASX Slides as Wall Street Slumps Over Worsening Prices

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Rising inflation concerns are pushing the Australian Securities Exchange lower and prompting a similar decline on Wall Street, as markets adjust expectations for higher interest rates.

Environment · 14 October 2026

Fiji’s Climate Summit: A ‘Resounding Success’ That Still Powers Aussie Coal

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Pacific describes Fiji’s climate negotiations as a resounding success, yet the spotlight remains on Australia’s ongoing coal exports, underscoring that the climate gains are still in jeopardy.

Finance · 14 October 2026

Banks Put ASX on the Back Burner as JPMorgan and Goldman Issue a Cautionary Serenade

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Australian sharemarket opened lower after a mixed session on Wall Street, with JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs executives warning that interest rates could stay higher for longer and the inflation story is far from over.

Finance · 13 October 2026

RBA Hits Pause on Digital Cash, 2030 Dream Deferred

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank of Australia has put its planned government‑backed digital currency on hold, shelving the 2030 rollout target and leaving cash as a physical medium for now.