Gold (GC=F) futures opened at a record $4,007.10 per troy ounce on Wednesday, up 0.8$3,976.60. This was the precious metal’s first open above $4,000. As the price of gold eclipses$4,000, the U.S. government shutdown continues. To force a reopening, President Trump has threatened to withhold backpay for federal workers. Meanwhile, the shutdown has paused the flow of economic data that helps central bank policymakers set interest rates. Federal Reserve officials have already expre ...