Fear & Greed Q+A

Stamp duty is one of the biggest additional costs homebuyers face - and many economists argue it's also one of Australia's most inefficient taxes. If we got rid of it, it may encourage people to buy and sell more easily, freeing up family homes and reducing pressure in the market. But if governments abolished it, how would they replace the billions of dollars it raises each year? Sean Aylmer speak...

The June quarter inflation figures came in below expectations, easing pressure on the Reserve Bank ahead of its next meeting. But the fight against inflation is far from over. Sean Aylmer speaks with Warren Hogan, Managing Director of EQ Economics and Economic Advisor at Judo Bank, about why the latest inflation data was better than feared, why business cost pressures remain intense, what could re...

Markets are facing a long list of challenges, from stubborn inflation and the prospect of another interest rate hike, to geopolitical tensions and a reporting season that could trigger big share price moves. Sean Aylmer speaks with Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist and Head of Investment Strategy at AMP, about where the ASX sits heading into earnings season, why investors should expect more volatil...

The world's biggest technology companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on artificial intelligence. Investors have happily backed the AI boom so far, but at some point they'll want to see a return. Michael Thompson speaks with Josh Gilbert, Lead Market Analyst for APAC at eToro, about what last week's results from Alphabet and Tesla revealed, what to expect from Microsoft, Meta, Amaz...

This week: CPI figures for the June quarter (and the monthly report for June) - will it put more pressure on the RBA to hike rates? Building approvals House prices Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas  to look at what to expect. Join our  free daily newsletter here . Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

There's a lot of negativity and bad news out there. Today, Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson explain why the economy really  isn't  as bad as you might think. Got a topic you'd like to see explored one Sunday? Get in touch  here . Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mining is one of Australia's biggest industries, yet it often finds itself on the defensive. Sean Aylmer speaks with Tania Constable, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Council of Australia, about why mining has an image problem, whether the industry is taxed fairly, the growing importance of critical minerals, and why Australia risks losing investment if it becomes less competitive.  Th...

Australia's housing boom appears to be over. Sean Aylmer speaks with Dr Nicola Powell, Chief of Research and Economics at Domain, about why house prices are now falling across the combined capital cities, why Sydney and Melbourne are leading the downturn, and why Adelaide continues to buck the trend.  They also discuss what's happening in the unit market, when prices could stabilise, and how...

A new AI challenger has emerged from China, and is threatening to upend the whole AI landscape for users and investors. Moonshot AI's latest model, Kimi K3, is being described by some as the next "DeepSeek moment." Sean Aylmer talks to Will Liang, CEO of Amplify AI Group, about Kimi K3, why it's being compared to DeepSeek, and what it means for businesses, investors and the global AI race. Find ou...

Oil prices have been whipsawed by developments in the Middle East, with markets swinging sharply on every headline. But are investors reacting too quickly? Sean Aylmer speaks with Brian Arcese, Portfolio Manager at Foord Asset Management, about why oil prices may remain higher for longer, why markets are underestimating the time it takes for supply to recover, and what that means for inflation, in...

This week, it's all about labour force numbers, with a deep dive on jobs: how is employment measured? What is unemployed vs underemployed? What about the participation rate? What does 'hours worked' tell us about a slowing economy? Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas  for a preview of the jobs data, and an employment explainer. Join our  free daily newsletter...

The outlook for interest rates is very different, depending on which economist you ask - some are predicting more rate hikes, while others say the next move will be down. So why is there such a major split? Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson explore the cases for both arguments, and what the RBA might do. If you’ve got a question you’d like us to tackle about business, economics, po...

Private credit has become one of Australia's fastest-growing asset classes. But with higher interest rates, a slowing economy and growing pressure in parts of the property market, investors are asking whether the next credit crunch is around the corner. Sean Aylmer speaks with Laurence Hart, CEO of Corval Avenue, about whether Australia's debt markets can withstand a more volatile environment, whe...

Online fraud is becoming more sophisticated, and AI is changing both sides of the battle. Sean Aylmer speaks with Joshua Paling, Director of Engineering at Luxury Escapes, about how the travel business is using artificial intelligence to detect fraud in real time. After a sophisticated fraud attack cost the company around $300,000 in just one week, Paling and his team rethought their entire approa...

Business confidence has recovered from the shock of the Middle East conflict, but Australia's economy is still losing momentum. Sean Aylmer speaks with Taylor Nugent, Senior Economist at National Australia Bank, about the latest NAB Business Survey and why it's one of the Reserve Bank's favourite economic indicators. Nugent explains why business confidence has rebounded, what capacity utilisation...

The AI investment story is entering a new phase. After the blockbuster listing of SpaceX, investors are now looking ahead to potential IPOs from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Sean Aylmer speaks with Dr Kevin Hebner, Managing Director and Global Investment Strategist at TD Epoch, about what the next wave of AI listings means for investors. Kevin explains why the current AI boom could run for...

This week: NAB business survey Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment survey Forecasts of slower economic growth Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas  to look at what to expect. Join our  free daily newsletter here . Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic growth is slowing, inflation remains stubbornly high, and many businesses are feeling the pressure. But according to one leading business banker, now isn't the time to stand still. Sean Aylmer speaks with Sam Tomaras, Head of Business Banking at Bank of Sydney, about how small and medium-sized businesses are navigating one of the toughest operating environments in years. Tomaras explains...

The next wave of AI isn't just answering questions - it's making purchasing decisions. And that means businesses need to be ready for AI optimisation. Sean Aylmer speaks with Talbott Roche, Global CEO of Blackhawk Network, about the rise of agentic commerce, where AI assistants don't just recommend products but eventually buy them on our behalf. They explore how retailers are rethinking how produc...

Australians have a complicated relationship with their banks. But maybe it's time to see them differently - not just as financial institutions, but as critical economic infrastructure. Sean Aylmer speaks with Simon Birmingham, CEO of the Australian Banking Association, about the role banks play in supporting home ownership, business investment and the broader economy, and why competition in bankin...

Twenty-five years ago, Australia's first exchange-traded fund listed on the ASX. Few people had heard of ETFs, and even fewer believed they'd become one of the country's most popular investment products. Sean Aylmer speaks with Jonathan Shead, Head of Investments at State Street Investment Management and one of the people who helped launch Australia's first ETF. Shead reflects on the challenges of...

This week, it's all about the financial year ahead. What to expect for: economic growth interest rates Australian and US equities commodities employment Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas  to look at the year ahead. Join our  free daily newsletter here . Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tax time is here, but the ATO has a clear message: don't rush. Taxpayers are twice as likely to make mistakes if they lodge in the first few weeks of July.  Sean Aylmer speaks with Anita Challen, Assistant Commissioner at the Australian Taxation Office, about the biggest mistakes Australians make when lodging their tax returns, the deductions that catch people out, and how data-matching is ma...

It's been another strong year for superannuation returns, but not without plenty of surprises. Sean Aylmer speaks with Jonathan Armitage, Chief Investment Officer at Colonial First State, about the investment themes that shaped the financial year and how investors can look at the next twelve months, from emerging markets to AI. This is general information only. You should seek professional advice...

Most Australians first heard about RNA during the COVID pandemic. But scientists believe that was only the beginning. Sean Aylmer speaks with Paul McDonald, CEO of RNA Australia, about the technology that's already transforming medicine and could soon play a major role in treating cancer, rare diseases, respiratory illnesses and biosecurity threats. McDonald explains how RNA therapies work, why Au...