Tuesday 22 April 2025 The federal opposition pushes its law and order credentials, as polls show Labor increasing its lead in the race to polling day.  And more, including: Pope Francis dies aged 88 More than 30,000 Australian businesses owe the tax man more than $100,000.   Some hybrid vehicles use more fuel than their internal combustion engine competitors.  A Trump executive order greenlights a major Rio Tinto and BHP copper project.  And the first half marathon for both humans and robots shows that androids still have a way to go, at least in the running stakes.  Join our free daily newsletter here! And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - what to do when you’re spending $500 a week more than you earn. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

What to make of last week's labour force data, and what to glean from the minutes of the Reserve Bank board (particularly what they tell us about interest rates). Sean Aylmer and Stephen Koukoulas discuss the major events, reports and releases that provide insight into the economy this week.

Small businesses in Australia are under extraordinary pressure right now, from rising costs in energy, rent and insurance, through to cyber attacks and grappling with complex changes to industrial relations. And those that are dependent on household discretionary spending are doing it even tougher, with food and beverage business closure rates at a record high, according to CreditorWatch. Sean Aylmer speaks to Luke Achterstraat, Chief Executive of COSBOA, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, about what the small business sector needs from this federal election to ease the pressure on operators, and help SMEs to thrive.

Gold is having an extraordinary run right now, with the price of the precious metal soaring to record highs. Shaun Weick, Senior Investment Analyst at Wilson Asset Management, talks to Sean Aylmer about investing in Australian gold miners. This is general information only and you should seek independent advice before making investment decisions.

Monday 21 April 2025 The two federal leaders gear up for the final run into the election.  And more, including: Rental growth across the country is still tracking above pre-COVID levels.  Bunnings dips its toe into the auto sector. Astronomers find signs of life on another planet Join our free daily newsletter here! And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - what to do when you’re spending $500 a week more than you earn. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Private equity is a growing part of the global investment landscape, offering access to companies not listed on public markets. But selecting the right partners is a key challenge for investors. Obsidian Capital is an Italian investment firm that focuses on private markets, working with a range of fund managers across different geographies and sectors, including technology, healthcare, and business services. Sean Aylmer talks to Daniele Mellana, a Partner at Obsidian Capital, about private equity, choosing the right partner, and the changing global landscape. Obsidian Capital is working with Sodor Capital, a supporter of this podcast. The information in this episode is general in nature. You should seek professional advice before making investment decisions.

Pokemon is one of the ten most valuable licenced brands in the world - and in 2016 it got a major boost with the launch of Pokemon Go, an augmented reality game that took the globe by storm. Fear & Greed's Michael Thompson and Stefan Von Imhof from alts.co take a look at the Pokemon phenomenon - how a humble black and white Nintendo game exploded into TV and film, trading cards, merchandise and a mobile game that sold last month for billions and generated a stack of controversy along the way.

Federal politics vs the economy - it's a battle for the biggest story of the week.  Plus sharemarket news, a pay rise for hundreds of thousands of workers, and some incredible retailers.  Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson go head to head on the top business stories of the week, with Adam Lang picking a winner in a fierce debate.

After a very turbulent month, it’s worth a closer look at the big miners. The outlook for BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue outlook is tied - by varying degrees - to demand from China. And China’s been hit very hard by US tariffs. Sean Aylmer speaks to Shaun Weick, Senior Investment Analyst at Wilson Asset Management, about investing in the big miners. This is general information only and you should seek independent advice before making investment decisions.

Friday 18 April 2025 The labour market bounces, but not enough to stop a rate cut in May.  And more, including: Gold hits another record 21 big investors demand a say on James Hardie’s shift to Wall Street  We explore the true stories of Easter Join our free daily newsletter here! And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - what to do when you’re spending $500 a week more than you earn. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Nearly nine in ten Australians aged over 45 are worried about running out of money in retirement. And yet only 12% of people have spoken to an expert in superannuation and retirement planning. Katrina McPhee, Chief of Staff at Aware Super, joins Sean Aylmer in the studio to talk through some of the alarming findings in Aware Super’s State of Retirement report.

This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes. Unemployment rate 4.1pc Wisetech investigation Challenger rallies Dutton tax cuts? Powell warning

The Aussie dollar is rising against the greenback, but it's at multi-year lows against the euro, and not great against the pound either. Why is there such a difference?  Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question for Ask Fear & Greed, get in touch via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook!

Thursday 17 April 2025 The federal leaders face off as the election temperature heats up.  And more, including: The Fair Work Commission awards pay rises of up to 30 per cent for hundreds of thousands of early childhood workers and health professionals.  Qantas pushes further into banking.  Plus boom times for insurers, and Nvidia’s share price tumbles as the global trade war hits the world’s biggest chipmaker. Join our free daily newsletter here! And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - what to do when you’re spending $500 a week more than you earn. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Jennifer Westacott spent nearly 13 years as CEO of the Business Council of Australia, and still holds positions within organisations like the Reserve Bank of Australia. She recently spoke with Caroline Gurney on Future Generation's 2Fold podcast. This is a portion of a wide-ranging conversation, with the focus here on US politics, our own federal election, and the broader impact on business.

This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes. ASX flat White deal MinRes troubles BoQ jumps Rio warning

In the lead-up to the federal election, join Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson every week for a look at the latest in campaign news. This week, we're finally getting some policy details after the parties held their official launches. Plus, the most awkward moments of the week, and who are the biggest assets for each party?

Wednesday 16 April 2025 The Reserve Bank signals it is open to cutting interest rates if inflation is contained and Donald Trump’s trade wars hit growth.  And more, including: Moscow wants access to Indonesian airfields, potentially basing Russian military planes within 1300km of Darwin.  Guzman Y Gomez is winning the Mexican food wars.  Rebel Sport set to get a major new competitor with UK based Frasers pushing into the local market.  And Star Entertainment finally releases its half year accounts, and they aren’t good.   Join our free daily newsletter here! And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - what to do when you’re spending $500 a week more than you earn. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Despite market volatility, inflation pressures, and economic uncertainty, Australian investors are showing remarkable resilience. A new survey from HSBC has found that the majority of investors are keeping calm and sticking to their long-term strategies — even as markets heat up. Donahue D’Souza, Head of Investments at HSBC Australia, joins Sean Aylmer in the studio to talk about the annual Investor Insights Survey, and what it means for investors as they deal with unpredictable markets. This is general information only and you should seek professional advice before making investment decisions. Donahue D’Souza is Head of Investments at HSBC Australia.

This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes. ASX closes higher Housing centre stage Bellevue tumbles Low petrol prices LVMH falls