BUSINESS

wesfarmers is one of the most remarkable success stories on the asx - a diversified conglomerate thriving in a world where many have failed. sean aylmer speaks with gaurav sodhi, deputy head of research at intelligent investor, about what makes wesfarmers different. from the extraordinary rise of kmart’s anko brand, to bunnings’ near-monopoly power, and the company’s unique approach to capital allocation and management culture, gaurav explains why wesfarmers has delivered such strong long-term returns.

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12. all information is general in nature. if you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

wednesday 14 january 2026

the value of the australian housing market hits $12.3 trillion, but the pace of price rises are expected to slow this year. 

• kevin rudd steps down as australia’s ambassador to the us. 
• the new boss of endeavour has good news for drinkers - the group’s bottle shops and pubs will compete on price. 
• woolworths to introduce ai to help you do your groceries.
• the remarkable story behind one of the fastest growing apps in the world.

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and don’t miss the latest episode of how do they afford that? - this week, seven money habits that could change your year. get the episode from apple, spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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ai has powered markets higher - but is the boom already close to its peak? sean aylmer speaks with roger montgomery, founder and chief investment officer of montgomery investment management, about whether the world is nearing the end of an ai bubble. roger explains how past technology booms have played out, and what investors should be thinking about now, including whether it’s time to rebalance portfolios after the strong run in ai-linked stocks.

for more information, visit www.montinvest.com or call 02 8046 5000.
follow roger’s insights at www.rogermontgomery.com

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12. this episode is brought to you by montgomery investment management. all information is general in nature. if you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

tuesday 13 january 2026

prime minister anthony albanese recalls parliament to debate hate speech laws and ban hate groups. 

• black friday sales spur a surge in household spending. 
• meta says it has removed 540,000 users from its instagram, facebook and threads platforms, as a result of the social media ban for under 16-year-olds. 
• the trump administration readies to sue the head of the federal reserve jerome powell.
• a 1938 superman comic book sells for $22 million.

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and don’t miss the latest episode of how do they afford that? - this week, six financial goals for 2026. get the episode from apple, spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

at one point in 2025, it looked like inflation had been beaten. sean aylmer speaks with westpac chief economist luci ellis about what surprised economists late in the year, how much of the rise in inflation is “noise” versus something more persistent, and what this means for the reserve bank and westpac's predictions for interest rates.

this episode is brought to you by westpac. fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

monday 12 january 2026

fires in victoria and floods in queensland threaten lives and property, as federal and state governments step in to offer financial assistance. 

• bhp closes in on commonwealth bank in the race to be the country’s largest company. 
• investors and economists are split on whether the reserve bank will hike rates in 2026. 
• rio tinto and glencore in discussions to create the world’s biggest ming company.
• investors take a punt that a $13 billion bid for bluescope steel will ultimately succeed.

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and don’t miss the latest episode of how do they afford that? - this week, six financial goals for 2026. get the episode from apple, spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

thanks to a record-breaking netflix film, k-pop has had a breakout year,  and it’s creating some unusual investing opportunities. michael thompson speaks with stefan von imhof, co-founder of alternative investing community fund alts.co, about how k-pop is manufactured for global success - from government-backed cultural strategy to “idol incubators” that scout and train teenagers for years. stefan explains just how big the business has become, why even a fictional k-pop group can top the billboard charts, and how investing in music publishing rights works.

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12. all information is general in nature. if you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

podcasting has grown from a niche format into a mass medium. michael thompson speaks with tim burrowes from mumbrella and unmade about why podcasts succeeded where other digital formats stalled, how advertisers are using them, the shift toward video, and whether ai poses a threat.

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

wisetech global is one of australia’s most successful tech companies, and one of its most controversial. gaurav sodhi, deputy head of research at intelligent investor, joins sean aylmer to unpack why governance issues at wisetech have become impossible for investors to ignore. from allegations surrounding founder richard white, to aggressive accounting practices, gaurav explains why a world-class product isn’t enough on its own.

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12. all information is general in nature. if you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

what will be the must-have tech of 2026? michael thompson is joined by stephen fenech, editor of techguide.com.au, to preview the gadgets shaping the year ahead (spoiler alert - smart glasses are going to be big in 2026).

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from january 12. all information is general in nature. if you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs.

find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.