This is the Fear & Greed [https://fearandgreed.com.au/] 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 hits 5 week high

 2. IMF’s global recession warning

 3. Trump turns against Meloni

 4. Earthquake near Newmont mine

 5. Charges over alleged OpenAI CEO attack

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Afternoon Report | IIMF warns of global recession

Wednesday 15 April 2026

Qantas and Westpac are among a growing number of businesses warning that earnings will be hurt by the war in the Middle East. 

 * The Hollywood A-list crowd come out against a merger of Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery
 * The Reserve Bank deputy governor says local interest rates are likely to need to rise to contain inflation 
 * The federal Coalition’s immigration policy includes shades of Trumpism 
 * Business and consumer sentiment tumble

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup].

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? [https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/] - what’s your money personality… and is it costing you? Get the episode from APPLE [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235], SPOTIFY [https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14], or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Qantas cuts flights, Westpac braces for pain as oil shock hits home

Even before the latest oil price spike, business conditions were already deteriorating, with higher interest rates and weaker demand weighing on many sectors. Now, the latest Business Risk Index suggests the chance of business failures is increasing - particularly for small businesses and sole traders.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Ivan Colhoun, Chief Economist at CreditorWatch, about how oil shocks flow through to business costs and consumer spending, why SMEs are the most exposed, and what the data reveals about insolvencies.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Q+A: Business stress is rising - are insolvencies next?

This is the Fear & Greed [https://fearandgreed.com.au/] 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 rises 0.5pc

 2. Hormuz blockade now in effect

 3. Roblox overhaul for child safety

 4. Price Harry and Meghan in Australia

 5. Chinese airlines cuting Aus flights

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup].

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

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Afternoon Report | ASX up despite blockade in effect

Tuesday 14 April 2026

The federal government works to calm nerves about the US blockading the Strait of Hormuz. 

 * Department store David Jones feels the pressure of slower consumer spending
 * Two ASX mergers get a kick along
 * 80 per cent of Australians report having long term health conditions
 * The cost of the “annoyance economy”

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup].

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? [https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/] - this week: five ways to cut the cost of living. Get the episode from APPLE [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235], SPOTIFY [https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14], or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

What Trump’s Hormuz blockade means for fuel, oil and Australia

Long before it hits the petrol pump, disruption in global energy markets starts with a handful of critical choke points. Right now, the Strait of Hormuz — one of the most important shipping lanes in the world — is at the centre of it. So what happens when supply is suddenly constrained? And what does it mean for Australia?

Sean Aylmer talks to Vivek Dhar, Head of Commodities and Sustainability Research at Commonwealth Bank, about the flow of oil and gas around the world, Australia's exposure to the Middle East crisis, and why our LNG and coal give us a lot of leverage.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Q+A: Why gas and coal are our trump cards in an energy crisis

This is the Fear & Greed [https://fearandgreed.com.au/] 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 slips

 2. Trump order Hormuz blockade

 3. Companies announce downgrades

 4. IKEA cuts returns policy

 5. Hungary election shock

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup].

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

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Afternoon Report | Oil jumps on Hormuz blockade

Monday 13 April 2026

Peace talks between the US and Iran break down as fears of higher food prices escalate. 

 * The Aussie dollar, Bitcoin and gold all rise
 * One-time market darling, Atlassian, tumbles on Wall Street
 * Big banks and the US government warn of the destructive capabilities of AI
 * The commercial property market splits in two

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup].

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? [https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/] - this week: five ways to cut the cost of living. Get the episode from APPLE [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235], SPOTIFY [https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14], or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First petrol, then milk: the next cost-of-living hit is coming

This week it's all about labour force figures, and the NAB business survey - which will be one of the first indicators of how businesses have coped with the oil crisis caused by the Middle East war. Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas [https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.marketeconomics.com.au/stephen-koukoulas&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1776433059877517&usg=AOvVaw2rSmxjmBW0P1LELZgipJ9R].

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1776433059877517&usg=AOvVaw1iQMiYOQbvxF9-Wya8KJHy].

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

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Q+A: The Week Ahead | 13 April 2026

It's Sean's turn this week to hit Michael and Adam with five questions - no notice, no prep. This week, it's all about consumer behaviour - how the cost of living is changing the way we spend.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ [https://fearandgreed.com.au/]

See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Five Questions: Are your spending habits quietly shifting?

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast. All the business news you need to know, every day, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson.

 