Rate hike next week; Middle East embassies shuttered; robotaxis sans steering wheels

This is the Fear & 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. ASX down QANTAS Covid settlement Iron ore surge Inflation rising US, Iran threats Join our free daily newsletter here.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday 13 March 2026 Australia eases emissions standards on petrol as the price of oil surges amid a slump in supply from the Middle East.  The first signs of cracks in household spending emerge.  Australia’s tech golden child, Atlassian, cuts 1,600 jobs.  One-in-seven Australians experience personal fraud each year Hedgehogs and badgers to replace Winston Churchill and Jane Austen on British pound notes. Join our free daily newsletter here. And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, an investor’s secret weapon explained. 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.

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming one of the biggest strategic investments for major companies.Sean Aylmer speaks with Telstra CFO Michael Ackland, fresh from winning the Investor Engagement Excellence Award at the CFO Awards, about how the telco is using AI to improve customer service, increase productivity and train its workforce, while avoiding the risk of over-investing in a rapidly evolving technology.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the Fear & 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. ASX tumbles 1.3pc Aussie dollar hits 4 year high Royal Commission advisor quits KFC’s Germany push US prepares new tariff round Join our free daily newsletter here.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday 12 March 2026 A rate hike next week looks increasingly likely after the Reserve Bank Deputy Governor said failing to raise rates could be a problem for the economy.  Australia shuts down diplomatic missions in the Middle East as bombing in the region escalates Matt Canavan elected to lead the Nationals The federal government spends $200m to support a local data centre player  Amazon pushes robo-taxis without steering wheels, an accelerator or a brake Join our free daily newsletter here. And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, an investor’s secret weapon explained. 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.

Long queues outside the ABC Bullion store in Sydney became a familiar sight over the last six months as the price of gold surged and investors rushed to buy the precious metal.Sean Aylmer speaks with Jordan Eliseo, General Manager of ABC Bullion, about the demand for gold and silver, why self-managed super funds are allocating more to precious metals, and how he's seeing investors using gold to diversify portfolios in an uncertain economic environment.This is general information only. Seek professional advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions. ABC Bullion is a partner of Fear & Greed.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the Fear & 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. ASX rises Scott Morrison cleared Allegra Spender’s tax overhaul Anthropic to open in Australia US attacks mine-laying boats Join our free daily newsletter here.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday 11 March 2026 The local sharemarket rebounds from Monday’s plunge, but remains at the whim of Donald Trump’s commentary.  Australia sends hardware and personnel to the Middle East.  The value of housing across the country passes $12 trillion for the first time.  David Littleproud resigns as leader of the federal Nationals Aussies heading to Europe take the long way around Join our free daily newsletter here. And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, an investor’s secret weapon explained. 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.

Agentic AI promises productivity gains - but what does it actually look like inside a real business?Sean Aylmer speaks with Anouk Darling, CEO of student accommodation provider Scape, about how the company is using agentic AI to manage tens of thousands of student queries, automate parts of the student journey, and free up staff to focus on the human side of the business.Fear & Greed is proud to partner with Salesforce for the Agentforce World Tour Sydney. This interview is part of a series exploring how agentic AI is transforming Aussie businesses. Visit agentforce.com for more information.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the Fear & 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. ASX rebounds Iranian soccer players granted visas Glencore considering listing on ASX Kyle Sandilands demands to return to air Apple shifts iPhone production to India Join our free daily newsletter here.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.