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. RBA hikes interest rates

 2. Challenger lowers Pepper Money bid

 3. Naveed Akram in court

 4. Atlassian facing action over sacked worker

 5. Trump to delay China meeting

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

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Afternoon Report | RBA hikes rates

Tuesday 17 March 2026

The ASX hits its lowest point this year, and the only big winners so far in 2026 have been energy companies. 

 * The RBA is expected to announce a 25-basis point rate hike this afternoon
 * Major lenders fighting what could be billions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent home loans
 * The corporate regulator tells younger Australians to sense check the financial advice they are receiving online
 * Donald Trump threatens NATO after allies decide not to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz


Plus the next interview in our Accelerator series with Airwallex [https://www.airwallex.com/]. Today’s guest: Pan Koutlakis, from EatClub, on spotting a niche and building a global business.

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

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

ASX hits three month low; ASIC’s social media warning; Trump threatens NATO

AI promises huge productivity gains for businesses, but many Australian organisations are still stuck in pilot mode. The challenge isn’t the technology though - it’s knowing where to start, getting the people aligned, and proving the first use case.

Kevin Doyle, Regional VP for Agentforce and Data Cloud at Salesforce, speaks to Sean Aylmer about why 95% of AI pilots fail, why governance fears can slow companies down, and how 8.5 hours of lost productivity showed him the power of agentic AI.

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 [https://www.google.com/url?q=http://agentforce.com&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774104912954130&usg=AOvVaw0zI_lKaL0iGES1lYeh4Ds0] for more information.

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

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

Q+A: How 8.5 lost hours proved the power of agentic AI

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 to three month low

 2. One Nation support surges

 3. Nationals front bench announced

 4. Charges against Antony Catalano

 5. Aussies miss out at Oscars

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

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

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

Afternoon Report | ASX slips to three month low

The Reserve Bank set to raise interest rates, as the war in the Middle East increases inflation pressures. 

 * The local housing market has its worst week all year. 
 * YouTube surpasses Disney to become the largest media company in terms of revenue. 
 * Why an ASX listed stock lost 90 per cent in one session
 * Porsche cuts jobs as it tries to recover from its less than successful electric vehicle strategy

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, an investor’s secret weapon explained. 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.

Rates to rise as war goes on; auction market tumbles; YouTube biggest media company

The Reserve Bank board meets today and tomorrow, with all four big banks tipping an interest rate hike. 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=1774016164727491&usg=AOvVaw1ip0oOnWAbiKMlcGHM1veC] to look at what the RBA might do, the impact of the Middle East conflict, and what to expect from this week's labour force figures too.

Join our free daily newsletter here [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774016164727491&usg=AOvVaw3shlxdJKAJO8A_z9e3gbZm].

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

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

Q+A: The Week Ahead | 16 Mar 2026

Michael hits Sean and Adam with five questions — no notice, no prep — all their use of cash. Who still carries it, when did they last receive it, and would they miss it if cash disappeared tomorrow?

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

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

Five Questions: When was the last time someone handed you cash?

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

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

The Saturday Edition | 14 Mar 2026

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 down

 2. QANTAS Covid settlement

 3. Iron ore surge

 4. Inflation rising

 5. US, Iran threats

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

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

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

Afternoon Report | Oil release

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 [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, an investor’s secret weapon explained. 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.

Oil surges, petrol fears; Atlassian cuts 1600 jobs; 1 in 7 Aussies experience fraud

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.

 