Gold Set for Weekly Gain as Investors Weigh Rates, Trade Impact
Bullion traded near $3,330 an ounce to be up around 1.7% this week. It ended the previous session 0.9% lower when US payroll figures surprised on the upside, while the unemployment rate came in lower than expectations. The dollar rose along with Treasury yields — pressuring gold — as traders exited already slim bets on a rate reduction at the Fed's July meeting. Higher rates typically weigh on gold, which doesn't bear interest.
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Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Will Bale really buy Cardiff? Wales great's bid explained
Gareth Bale (left) was born and raised in Cardiff but never played for the club owned by Vincent Tan (right) [Getty Images] The last time Gareth Bale was at Cardiff City, he was about to take his country to the World Cup. Now he wants to buy the club. Or at least that is what the former Wales captain appears to have his heart set on after the surprising revelation he is part of an investment group aiming to take over the League One outfit. Advertisement A consortium led by Bale has reportedly made a second approach but club sources have told BBC Sport Wales they have not yet received any proposals that would make them seriously consider selling. One of his nation's greatest players, the retired 35-year-old told Cardiff fans "more news will come out" regarding the attempt to persuade owner Vincent Tan to sell up. But others have suggested the bid launched by Bale's group for his hometown club is not quite as it seems. So is the former Real Madrid megastar about to go from the Bernabeu to the Bluebirds' boardroom? What we know so far Wales' most capped and highest scoring men's international, Bale was initially linked with a takeover at Plymouth Argyle. Advertisement With owner Simon Hallet looking for fresh investment, Bale was said to be the face of a USA-based private equity group that had entered early talks over a deal. Some sources at Plymouth played down those reports with no public utterance from Bale or the unnamed other members of the consortium. That changed, though, when it emerged the group had written to Cardiff owner Tan making it clear they would be keen on taking control at the club recently relegated from the Championship. There was no formal bid but the proposal did make clear what the group would be looking to pay for a shareholding. Cardiff's board became aware of the approach but only after it had been dismissed pretty swiftly by Tan. As a result, there was no boardroom discussion or invitation for further talks. Advertisement BBC Sport Wales has been told a second approach was made to Tan but was met with the same short shrift. Why Cardiff City? On paper, the move makes sense. Bale was born and raised in Cardiff and would come home whenever he could during a glittering playing career, even though the majority of it was spent in Spain. His uncle, Chris Pike, played for the club during the late 1980s and early '90s, and Bale was close to emulating him before deciding to join Los Angeles FC from Real Madrid in 2022. "It's my home club, where I grew up. My uncle used to play for them," Bale said last month. Advertisement "So to be involved with an ownership group would be a dream come true. It's a club close to my heart. I would love to be able to be a part of growing Cardiff, taking it to the Premier League where it belongs." As the city of his birth and the location for some of his most heroic acts in a Wales shirt, Cardiff is a place that clearly holds special meaning for Bale. He did not grow up a Bluebirds fan. It was a picture of Zinedine Zidane that adorned his bedroom wall as a child. Playing for Real Madrid was the childhood dream he realised when he became the world's most expensive footballer in 2013. Having never played for Cardiff though, there seems to be an attraction for Bale in returning to rescue his home city's club. Advertisement Although Cardiff are preparing for their first season in the third tier since 2003, it is a well-supported club with significant potential. Restoring it to the Premier League would enhance Bale's already legendary status in the Welsh capital and, for those providing the bulk of the consortium's financial power, this could be a good time to acquire a club with plenty of room to grow. Wrexham and Birmingham City demonstrated last season how high-profile owners – and wealthy backers – can elevate teams from League One. Bale and his associates will have noted those success stories and will feel they could do the same. Advertisement Why now? Cardiff were relegated last season after finishing bottom of the Championship [Huw Evans Picture Agency] It has been two and a half years since Bale retired and it still remains to be seen how he will spend his life after playing. Between charity work, commercial commitments and very occasional media punditry or ambassadorial jobs for the Football Association of Wales, Bale appears to be keeping his options open – and allowing plenty of time for golf. If the proposed takeover of Cardiff were to prove successful, it is unclear what role he would play. American football legend Tom Brady holds a minority stake in Birmingham but has no day-to-day involvement in the running of the club, while the same is true of Bale's former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric at Swansea City. Advertisement There is a precedent set if Bale wanted to take a fairly hands-off approach, though Cardiff fans would be delighted if he were more active and visible than his celebrity-owner peers. Bluebirds supporters are desperate for change and have staged protests to express their dismay at the way Tan, chairman Mehmet Dalman and chief executive Ken Choo have run the club over the past decade. Prospective buyers will be aware of such ill feeling towards Cardiff's board but any possible takeover would come with several complications. Why not? It has not yet been possible to verify who, aside from Bale, is involved in the interested consortium - or what kind of wealth they have. Advertisement Although Bale was handsomely rewarded during his career when he was once the costliest footballer on the planet - as well as having investments in property, Welsh whisky business Penderyn and some bars in Cardiff and Bristol - his bank balance is not of a club-owning level. Last year, he made it to the Sunday Times rich list with an estimated wealth of £70m though he did not chart in the 2025 edition. To put that figure in context, Cardiff's owner Tan had £68m worth of loans owed to him by the club at the end of their last published accounting period in May 2024. In total - according to their most recent financial statements - the Bluebirds are carrying loans of more than £100m, some of which are to a company linked with chairman Dalman. Advertisement How any deal would factor in those debts remains to be seen. Tan has previously exchanged debt into equity, having put in an estimated £200m-plus into the club in one form or another since taking over in 2010. Furthermore, the yearly accounts have long made reference to the ongoing reliance on Tan's financial support. Losses over the past three seasons have averaged around £1.5m per month. There is an agreement that Tan will continue to help plug those gaps between turnover and expenses, even with the club's relegation to League One set to hit revenue by as much as £10m. And despite scaling back some of his business interests in recent years - including selling a minority stake in Bale's former club LAFC - Tan still has the money to do that. Advertisement In Malaysia, where his conglomerate Berjaya Corporation is based, he has involvement in several companies and businesses including mobile phone networks, financial institutions, supermarkets, hotels and property. In April, financial publication Forbes estimated his wealth at $770m (more than £550m). It is one of the reasons Tan has not held much serious interest in selling the club. Despite his absence, those close to him have routinely stressed he retains a strong interest and passion in the club's success. And it is also why, on the subject of selling in the past, there has been seemingly little interest unless it was of a price in excess of its realistic, business value. Advertisement It suggests any offer would have to be too big for Tan to turn down. In his most recent major interview with Welsh media - three years ago - he said he had received many approaches but had no interest in selling, adding that only returning the club to the Premier League would make a deal financially viable. Ironically, in reference to the criticism he has faced from fans during his ownership, he said: "To those guys who want 'Tan out', they should ask a rich Welshman, probably a billionaire, to buy this club and take it to the Premier League and keep them there for 10 years - because that is my goal." What happens next? Even if an improved offer - and a firm bid - were to materialise, this situation is unlikely to be resolved quickly. Advertisement Another factor that could complicate the matter is a court date in late September that could dramatically alter the value of the club. Cardiff are involved in a legal claim against FC Nantes over the death of striker Emiliano Sala, with the club seeking damages in excess of £100m. Bluebirds sources are confident they will be successful and the ruling would be expected by the end of the year. Considering that Tan is already reluctant to sell, the Sala case makes him even less likely to entertain any offers right now. Those close to the Cardiff owner have rubbished the proposals made by Bale and his associates, with some dismissing the attempted takeover as a publicity stunt. Advertisement The feeling at board level is that the Bale-led interest lacks substance, a view that is supported by the Cardiff City Supporters' Trust, which has said the proposal amounts to little more than a "fishing trip". That was a telling statement from the trust, which has previously voiced its concerns about the way the club is being run under Tan. Cardiff has been ravaged by division and discord in recent years, with fan protests, poisonous atmospheres at games and a general sense of disillusionment around the club. Bale and his consortium may believe that presents an opportunity but, as the Bluebirds' turbulent past demonstrates, nothing is straightforward when it comes to Cardiff City.
Washington Post
14 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Can President Trump deport Elon Musk?
World Can President Trump deport Elon Musk? July 4, 2025 | 12:47 PM GMT President Trump on July 1 said he would 'take a look' at deporting Elon Musk, a U.S. citizen who clashed with the president over the "Big Beautiful Bill."
CNET
14 minutes ago
- CNET
Our Favorite July 4th TV Deals: Score Big Discounts on Models From Samsung, TCL and LG
It's the Fourth of July and the best Independence Day sales are now in full swing. You can get some big discounts right now from all the major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon (which is also set to kick off its Prime Day sale in just a few days) on a wide variety of items, ranging from the top tech to household essentials. If you've been looking to upgrade your entertainment setup, now is the time. With sales in full swing today, you can get massive savings on a variety of TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG and TCL. Regardless of your budget and size needs, you'll find a TV deal that suits you here. Be warned, however, that these deals could expire or sell out at any point in the coming hours or days. So, if you see an offer that catches your eye, you may not want to wait too long. We'll be regularly updating this page as bargains come and go, so be sure to check back often for the latest and greatest discounts. Best July 4th TV deals LG 65-inch C4 Series OLED: $1,297 Thanks to its absolutely stunning OLED display, exceptional contrast and extensive gaming features, the LG C4 Series is our top pick for the overall best TV value this year. It also supports Dolby Vision and Atmos for a truly great user experience. And it has LG's Alpha 9 AI processor, which automatically enhances picture quality. Plus Amazon Alexa is built-in for easy hands-free control. Details Save $1,200 $1,297 at B&H Photo Close TCL 85-inch QM8: $1,700 If you're in the market for a massive screen, this is a deal you won't want to miss. Our experts named the TCL QM8 as the best TV for the money this year and this 85-inch model is a steal at $800 off. It features a 4K QLED display with HDR10 Plus support for sharp contrast, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate for fluid action. The TV also has Google Chromecast built in for easy wireless streaming. Details Save $800 $1,700 at Best Buy Close Amazon 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series: $340 This 55-inch Amazon TV is a great option for those on a tighter budget. It has all the essentials, including 4K picture, HDR10 support and four HDMI ports, so you can easily connect your soundbar, gaming console or other peripherals. Plus, the convenient remote has a built-in microphone to easily browse hands-free with Amazon Alexa. Details Save $120 $340 at Amazon Close Samsung 98-inch Crystal UHD DU9000 TV: $1,850 This massive 98-inch Samsung TV is 54% off at Woot, dropping the cost to $1,850. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, object tracking sound lite, 4K upscaling and even a game bar to enhance this TV while you're gaming. Details Save $2,148 $1,850 at Woot Close Hisense 75-inch QD7 QLED Fire TV: $640 Knock 20% off this 75-inch 2025 TV with HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, a 144Hz refresh rate and the Fire TV platform. It also has Game Mode Pro for the gamers and comes with Alexa built in, as well as a voice remote for easy searching. With a screen this size and so many features, it's a solid choice for your entertainment hub. Details Save $160 $640 at Amazon Close More July 4th TV deals: Should you shop July 4th TV deals or wait until Prime Day? With July 4th here and another major shopping event just around the corner, many potential buyers are wondering whether it's better to take advantage of the current Fourth of July deals, or wait until Prime Day a few days later. Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing which sale will offer the absolute best prices but it's likely that both will blur into a single massive shopping event that spans multiple days and retailers. With that in mind, we'd lean toward getting your order in sooner rather than later. While there's a slight chance we'll see prices dip a little lower later in the sale, there's a much greater chance that the best bargains will sell out fast. If you see a TV that fits your needs and budget at a good price, we'd recommend grabbing it before it goes out of stock. Which retailers offer the best July 4th TV deals? As you might expect, major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are offering some excellent deals for the Fourth of July and Prime Day. You'll also want to check out smaller online-only retailers like Adorama and B&H Photo, as they may be offering some under-the-radar bargains that aren't being matched elsewhere. What else is on sale for July 4th? There are a huge variety of deals that you can shop across retailers for the Fourth of July. These include tons of top tech like TVs and laptops, as well as home goods and big-ticket items like mattresses and major appliances. There are also be plenty of seasonal deals on grills, outdoor gear and other summer essentials. To give you a good idea of what's out there, you can check out our full roundup of all the best Fourth of July deals already available. How we choose the best July 4th TV deals At CNET, we've covered shopping events for more than five years, including Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We've become good at weeding out scams and superficial deals so you only get the best offers. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing television deals. We have a team of devoted experts who have tested hundreds of TVs to make sure we're bringing you the best of the best. Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to make sure no brands are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is. Quality reviews and testing are important for any product, but especially for TVs. If you're unhappy the first time you turn it on, the discount wasn't worthwhile. Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we'll let you know upfront, so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
