Fear & Greed Q+A

Gold has surged past US$4,000 an ounce in 2025 — its strongest year since the late 1970s.  State Street Investment Management’s Robin Tsui explains why the rally isn’t just about safe-haven demand, but de-dollarisation, central bank buying, and a wave of geopolitical tailwinds. Plus, the outlook: how high gold could realistically climb in 2026. This is general information on...

Australia has just raised the social media age from 13 to 16 — a world-first move watched closely around the globe.  And much of it happened because of a campaign organised by Sydney's Nova FM radio host Michael “Wippa” Wipfli. Wippa joins Sean to explain how the 36 Months campaign helped change the law, why parents are backing it, how algorithms have become “insecurit...

From private credit to private equity, gold and real estate, alternatives are now playing a greater role in portfolio diversification. It's a story playing out in the US, where there is $US46 trillion in retirement savings, with about $17 trillion of that held in IRAs, or Individual Retirement Accounts.  Henry Yoshida , co-founder and CEO of  Rocket Dollar , joins Sean Aylmer to unpack w...

This week, the Reserve Bank board meets. What will they make of last week's GDP figures, and the jump in household spending? Also this week: labour force data, and the crucial December meeting of the US Federal Reserve.  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 busin...

Most of us have had bosses who didn't quite live up to expectations. Today, the Fear & Greed make a list of the eight biggest mistakes managers make. 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 touch via our  website ,  LinkedIn ,  Insta...

Banks hold a unique position on the ASX - they dominate the list of the biggest companies on the bourse, but the game has changed.  Andrew Dale from ECP Asset Management joins Sean to unpack performance gaps across the majors, what’s driving the recovery stories, and the mix of banks he thinks offers the best medium-term exposure in a shifting market. This is general information only. S...

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have exploded into Australia’s biggest retail moment — bigger than the post-Christmas sales, and now stretching across almost an entire month.  Michael Thompson talks to Stripe Australia / NZ Managing Director Karl Durrance about the extraordinary transaction volumes, why Sydney ranks among the world’s top cities for online spending, and how ret...

With Bitcoin swinging from record highs to sharp drops, investors are asking what’s next. Sean Aylmer speaks to John O’Loghlen, Managing Director of Coinbase Australia, for an insight into market flows, regulation, and whether a Fed change could spark the next rally. This is general information only. Seek professional advice before making investment decisions. Find out more: https://fe...

The Aussie dollar has been oddly steady, but interest rate expectations are starting to shake things up.  NAB’s Ray Attrill explains to Sean Aylmer why commodities no longer drive the currency, and what needs to happen for the dollar to rise. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive week ahead for the economy, headlined by GDP data, following a shock jump in inflation and a sharp rise in business investment: all signs point to interest rate cuts being a thing of the past. 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, economi...

Sean, Adam and Michael started Fear & Greed five and a half years ago, and have learnt a lot along the way. Today, they reflect on what's worked, what hasn't, and what they would do differently. 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 touch vi...

Today's episode deals with a question from listener Michael, via LinkedIn:  What in the world has happened with CSL? Downgrading guidelines, some board member transitions, vaccine business segment demerger, and a huge drop in stock price! Steve Wheen, Head of Healthcare, and Managing Director of Equity Research at Jarden, talks to Sean Aylmer about CSL and the rest of the healthcare sector. T...

As an asset class, private credit is surging, worth at least $200 billion locally - and increasingly, retail investors are becoming interested in private credit. But is it a safe way to invest money? What should an investor be looking for when considering private credit? Sean Aylmer is joined by ASIC commissioner Simone Constant to discuss ASIC's benchmark reports into public and private markets....

Managing working capital is absolutely vital for any business - it's the part of a company’s trading that hasn’t yet translated into cashflow. Every year, the team at McGrathNicol Advisory release their Working Capital Report - revealing how much cash is locked up within Australian companies, and how they stack up against the rest of the world. Jason Ireland and Sean Wiles - partn...

There’s plenty of fear in markets right now, with big moves across both Wall Street and the ASX. So how do you block out the noise, and find the opportunities amidst the uncertainty? Lochlan Halloway, Equity Market Strategist at Morningstar, talks to Sean Aylmer about investing in volatile markets, including a couple of companies that have fallen a long way from their previous highs. This is...

This week: the new and improved monthly CPI figure lands. Plus, private sector capex and more. 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 more. If you have your own question, get in touch via our  website ,  LinkedIn ,&...

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have replaced the Boxing Day sales as the year's biggest retail event. So how do three non-shoppers make the most of the deals on offer? 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 touch via our  website ,  LinkedIn...

In its annual report on the Australian economy, the International Monetary Fund has identified a bunch of options for reform, from increasing the GST to getting rid of tax breaks. But is it all a little too removed from reality? Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson discuss the potential for reform, and why a shopping list of changes from a US-based organisation can be problematic. Find out more: https...

David Booth helped create one of the world’s first index funds in the 1970s, before launching Dimensional Fund Advisors in the early 80s. Since then, Dimensional has become a global giant, with $US915 billion (around $1.4 trillion AUD) in assets under management - including on behalf of Australia’s two biggest super funds. David Booth, Founder and Chairman of Dimensional Fund Advisers,...

Yesterday the S&P/ASX 200 tumbled two per cent, led by a sell-off in tech stocks. It's now down about seven per cent over the past month. Concerns about the end of the interest rate cycle in Australia, a lack of information on Wall Street and the forever present geopolitical fears seem to be weighing on investors. Roger Montgomery, founder and Chief Investment Officer at Montgomery Investment...

Ransomware attacks are still a major threat to Australian businesses of all sizes. But the tactics involved are changing, and at the same time, attitudes towards reporting and paying ransoms are evolving too. Darren Hopkins - Head of Cyber at McGrathNicol - and Brendan Payne - Cyber Partner at McGrathNicol - talk to Sean Aylmer about their latest report on ransomware, including some good news...

This week: RBA minutes, wages data, and a look back at last week's strong labour force data - is an interest rate cut off the table? 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 more. If you have your own question, get in touch via...

Every day for the last five and a half years, Fear & Greed has published at least one podcast episode exploring the latest business news. Today, Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson discuss the best and worst parts of hosting and producing a daily podcast. Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and...

The Australian housing market hit $12 trillion this week. The value has doubled over the past decade, with most of the growth in the past five years. It’s a hot market, and this spring selling season is no different - plenty of upsizers, downsizers, investors, and of course, first home buyers. So how do you get the best bang for your buck on your new home loan? Annie Harrison, Head of Direct...

We've had a lot of data coming out recently. The Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index surged 12.8%. The NAB business conditions measure also rose. CBA boss Matt Comyn has come out and said that the Australian economy remains resilient. With all this in mind, is the economy too strong to hope for interest rate cuts next year?  Join our free daily newsletter here . EXCLUSI...