Fear & Greed Q+A

Biotech company Imugene reported its half-year results yesterday. It’s still loss-making, but sharply cutting costs and seeing what appear to be genuinely encouraging clinical results. Its lead cancer therapy, azer-cel, is showing strong response rates in difficult lymphoma cases, with some patients cancer-free for nearly two years - and the FDA has given positive feedback on the company&rsq...

Australia has a productivity problem, and AI is often pitched as the solution. But while companies are running pilots everywhere, very few are actually getting AI into enterprise production. Sean Aylmer speaks with Frank Fillmann, Executive Vice President and general manager of Salesforce ANZ, about why 95% of AI pilots fail, why the “last mile” is so hard, and how businesses can move...

US tech giants are spending as much as US$700 billion this year on AI — roughly a third of Australia’s GDP. But what if the profits and productivity gains take far longer to arrive than markets expect? Sean Aylmer speaks with Dr Kevin Hebner, Global Investment Strategist at Epoch Investment Partners about the risks of over-concentration in US tech, the 'March of the Nines' and why ever...

Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas  to look at the week ahead for the economy, including monthly inflation data, and capex figures - including a closer look at the impact of business investment. Join our  free daily newsletter here . Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has remote work contributed to a loneliness epidemic? Michael Thompson quizzes Sean Aylmer and Adam Lang about talking to strangers, phone vs email, and whether remote work has made us braver online and quieter in person. Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own questio...

Wesfarmers has reported a jump in sales and a better-than-expected net profit of $1.6 billion for the December half. But CEO Rob Scott warns households are feeling the full impact of inflation and interest rates. In a wide-ranging conversaiton, Sean Aylmer speaks with Rob Scott about the consumer outlook, productivity initiatives across Bunnings and Kmart, the future of lithium and chemicals, the...

A listener question from far North Queensland sparks a dive into regional property trends. Michael Thompson speaks with Tim Lawless, Executive Research Director for Asia Pacific at Cotality, about how regional markets are performing versus the capitals, what’s driving growth, and whether the pandemic tree change still has legs. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/l...

For the first time, copper has passed iron ore as the main source of revenue for BHP.  Vandita Pant, Chief Financial Officer at BHP, speaks to Andrew Geoghegan at Ausbiz about the company's bumper half-year results. Fear & Greed is proud to partner with Ausbiz, Australia's leading provider of live and on-demand video of the latest news in Australian business, markets, economy and startups...

The share market is swinging wildly this reporting season — blue chips are plunging and rebounding, banks are rallying, tech is getting sold off on AI fears, then bouncing back again. Sean Aylmer speaks with Morningstar equity market strategist Lachlan Halloway about what’s driving the volatility, whether AI is a real threat to listed companies, and why long-term investors might actual...

It’s a “top shelf” week for economic data, with labour force figures, wage growth numbers and the Reserve Bank minutes all due.  Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas  to unpack what the wage price index actually measures, why monthly employment numbers can be volatile, and how real wages, productivity and consumer spending all connect. Plus -...

The Aussie shout might well be dead, with drinks too expensive for people to buy a round on a night out. New data from payments company Tyro suggests customers are hitting a ceiling on what they're willing to pay for coffee and beer. Michael Thompson quizzes Sean Aylmer and Adam Lang on their attitudes to the shout, tipping, splitting bills, money boundaries, and how much is  too  much t...

Testosterone therapy is booming, but how much of it is medically necessary, and how much is hype? Sean Aylmer speaks with Dr Zac Turner about exogenous testosterone, what it actually is, and what the major TRAVERSE clinical trial found about heart risk and safety. They discuss why falling testosterone levels are common as we age, the surprising role sleep and stress play in suppressing hormone pro...

Record growth in loans and deposits has pushed Commonwealth Bank’s half year profit to $5.4 billion, triggering a seven per cent jump in its share price. In a wide-ranging chat, CBA CEO Matt Comyn speaks with Juliette Saly from Ausbiz about competition from Macquarie, housing supply reform, AI investment, productivity, regional branches, workforce impacts, mortgage stress, and whether Austra...

As artificial intelligence explodes, electricity demand is fast becoming one of the biggest constraints on growth. Data centres are consuming vast amounts of power, and access to the grid is emerging as a critical bottleneck - not just in Australia, but globally. Sean Aylmer speaks with Jack Curtis, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Neara, Australia’s newest tech unicorn. Neara has...

Reporting season is underway, and after last year’s wild share price swings, investors are bracing for more volatility.  Sean Aylmer speaks to Ben Gilbert, Head of Australian Research at Jarden, about the companies he's watching, which sectors could surprise, where the risks lie, and how interest rates and AI are shaping results. Fear and Greed is not a financial advice podcast. The inf...

This week we get household spending as well as lending data, giving an insight into the state of the economy, and whether the RBA made the right call increasing interest rates last week. Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas . Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson and the team as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and...

This week the Washington Post (owned by Amazon's Jeff Bezos) sacked 300 journalists, reducing its newsroom by about a third. Michael and Sean talk about the impact of the decision, the business of newspapers, and Sean's own experience of having to make major changes to newsrooms. Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang as they answer questions on business, investing,...

Are Australia’s big department stores running out of road? In the US, iconic names like Saks and Macy’s are shrinking fast. At home, David Jones and Myer have both been closing stores as consumer behaviour shifts and online retail keeps growing. Sean Aylmer speaks with retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology, about whether department stores c...

After years of hype, ethical and green investing has cooled. But instead of going away, it's evolving. Sean Aylmer speaks with Dugald Higgins, Head of Responsible Investment and Real Assets at Zenith Investment Partners, about where sustainable investing now sits, why Australia has held steady while other markets pulled back, the difference between ESG and sustainability, and how new climate repor...

The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates for the first time in two years, and while the hike was widely expected by markets, not all economists thought the RBA would do it. AMP Deputy Chief Economist Diana Mousina explains why the unanimous vote raised eyebrows, and why she believes this may still be a one-off adjustment rather than the start of a tightening cycle. Find out more: https://fe...

Roger Montgomery, founder and Chief Investment Officer at Montgomery Investment Management, looks back at the forces that drove markets in 2025 — from the AI boom to the “great broadening” beyond US megacaps. He talks to Sean Aylmer about the bull and bear cases for US equities in 2026, why the US dollar matters for Australian investors, and where diversification may make sense a...

It's all about the RBA this week, with interest rates tipped to rise. Michael Thompson is joined by economist  Stephen Koukoulas  to look at what to expect. Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson and the team as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question, get in touch via our  website , ...

This week the Winter Olympics kick off in Italy. Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson talk about the big sporting events they've covered in the media, from the Atlanta and London Olympics, to the US Open tennis. Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question, get in touc...

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are reshaping healthcare — and potentially the economy. Dr Zac Turner explains to Sean Aylmer how GLP-1 drugs work, what we’re still learning about their long-term effects, why the next generation matters, and how these medications may go far beyond weight loss. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

A rate hike is now firmly back on the table next week after a sharp jump in inflation.  Economist Warren Hogan, from  EQ Economics  and Judo Bank, talks to Sean Aylmer about where the RBA went wrong, why inflation is proving stubborn, and why the Reserve Bank should increase rates by 40 basis points next week. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener f...