BUSINESS

this is the fear and greed afternoon report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.

1. asx down, gold hits high

2. one nation support surges

3. govt’s housing target cost blowout

4. uk poised to follow social media ban

5. chatgpt to start showing ads

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monday 19 january 2026

the world economic forum kicks off tonight in davos, 48 hours after us president donald trump slapped tariffs on european allies, which will remain until they agree to sell him greenland. 

• prime minister anthony albanese shelves half his racial vilification legislation as parliament sits for a two day summer session
• the remarkable improvement in cancer recovery rates
• holiday makers into australia surge
• the australian tennis open kicks off

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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.

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luxury travel is evolving - it’s no longer just about five-star hotels, but about experiences, space, food and service. michael thompson chats with dylan o'brien from luxury escapes about what luxury travel looks like in 2026, where australians are heading, and how travellers are redefining what “luxury” really means.

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.

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australian investors love dividends, and franking credits only add to the appeal. but picking dividend stocks isn’t as simple as buying whatever yielded the most last year. sean aylmer talks to morningstar strategist lachlan halloway about what actually makes a dividend sustainable, why asx yields are lower than the long-run average, and how morningstar goes about identifying higher-yield opportunities.

this is fear & greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular business 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.

friday 16 january 2026

the federal opposition and greens indicate they won’t support the government hate speech legislation next week. 

• a shortage of air traffic controllers causes chaos across the country
• households up their spending
• nasa performs its first ever medical evacuation
• hollywood star zoe saldana becomes the highest grossing actor of all time

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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.

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

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

thursday 15 january 2026

alphabet, the parent company of google, hits a $us4 trillion valuation, making it the second largest stock on wall street. 

• the federal opposition baulks at supporting labor’s anti-vilification laws 
• a record year for etfs in australia
• house and unit rents are set to stabilise after years of growth
• china’s trade surplus hits a record $us1.2 trillion, as donald trump’s tariffs re-order trade flows

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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.

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

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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

see omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.