Shares in Asia edged higher and gold continued its record climb on Tuesday as markets weighed prospects for a US government shutdown that would delay closely watched jobs figures. US Vice President JD Vance said the government appeared “headed to a shutdown” after little progress in budget talks between President Donald Trump and Democratic opponents. A government closure would halt the publishing of critical employment numbers later this week, putting the spotlight on the Labour Department’s JOLTS report on August job openings due later on Tuesday. The US JOLTS report is the first of several indicators expected ahead of the September employment report due Friday that is considered key to the Federal Reserve’s calculations for the timing of rate cuts. The economic and trade uncertainty was a tailwind for gold , which reached an all-time high $US3,843.49 ($A5,844.37).