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FAST

FIVE.

Daily business news

for people who make their own decisions.

Five news stories in five minutes. When you remove the grey, you get your news quicker. We tell you how it is, you decide from there.

Fast Five | 19 Jan 2026

Monday 19 January 2026

The top five business stories in five minutes, with Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson.

  1. US hits Europe with Greenland tariffs
  2. PM waters down racial bill
  3. Holiday makers into Australia surge
  4. Australian Open tennis kicks off
  5. Cancer success soars

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, your money bounceback plan. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen X’s 'dirty fantasy': the four-day work week

Is the four-day work week realistic, or just wishful thinking? Sean Aylmer talks to Simon Kuestenmacher from The Demographics Group about why Gen X is obsessed with work-life balance, and what global trials really show. Simon explains why productivity hasn’t collapsed in some experiments - and why labour shortages, not lifestyle trends, may ultimately decide where it works and where it doesn’t.

This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fast Five | 16 Jan 2026

Friday 16 January 2026

The top five business stories in five minutes, with Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson.

  1. Hate legislation on shaky ground
  2. Air traffic chaos
  3. Households up their spending
  4. NASA’s first medical evacuation
  5. Hollywood’s highest grossing actor

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, your money bounceback plan. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our $9 billion export that nobody talks about

Global markets have faced renewed volatility following the election of Donald Trump, but how much does it really matter for Australia? Sean Aylmer is joined by Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis to discuss the US, China and the forces shaping the global outlook in 2026. Luci also highlights a fast-growing but under-appreciated success story.

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.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fast Five | 15 Jan 2026

Thursday 15 January 2026

The top five business stories in five minutes, with Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson.

  1. Alphabet hits $US4 trillion
  2. Coalition baulks at hate laws
  3. Rents set to stabilise
  4. Record year for ETFs
  5. China’s trade surplus hits record

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, your money bounceback plan. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fast Five | 13 Jan 2026

Tuesday 13 January 2026

The top five business stories in five minutes, with Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson.

  1. Parliament recalled for hate speech laws
  2. Surge in household spending
  3. Meta cans 540k users
  4. Trump administration goes after Jerome Powell
  5. Superman comic $22m sale

Join our free daily newsletter here.

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.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fast Five | 12 Jan 2026

Monday 12 January 2026

The top five business stories in five minutes, with Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson.

  1. Fire, floods disasters
  2. BHP closes on CBA as top stock
  3. Rate cut guessing game
  4. Rio Tinto and Glencore in megamerger talks
  5. $13b bid for Bluescope Steel

Join our free daily newsletter here.

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.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best family holidays in 2026

Travelling with kids can be magical - if you pick the right trip. Michael Thompson speaks with Luke Humphries from Luxury Escapes about the best family holiday ideas for 2026 - from local theme parks, to international destinations.

This episode is brought to you by Luxury Escapes. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small caps are back. Can they keep going?

After years in the shadows, Australian small caps staged a comeback in 2025. But can it continue? Sean Aylmer speaks with Roger Montgomery from Montgomery Investment Management about why small caps began outperforming, and why not all small caps are created equal. Roger explains what to look for, and runs through several small-cap names that highlight the themes driving the sector.

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.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood investing: it's not all red carpets and blockbusters

Film investing sounds glamorous, but it can be brutally risky. Michael Thompson talks with Stefan von Imhof from Alts.co about why taking equity stakes in movies can disappoint, even when the film feels like a hit, thanks to “Hollywood accounting” and unpredictable box office outcomes. Stefan explains why horror can be a more profitable genre (cheap to make, strong upside), and explores an alternative way to invest in films.

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.

Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.