Interest rates rising, crypto tumbling, deals collapsing, major tax reform and the start of the Winter Olympics: it's been a monster week.

Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson go head to head on the top business stories of the week, with Adam Lang picking a winner in a fierce debate.

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The Saturday Edition | 7 Feb 2026

This is the Fear and 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 tumbles

 2. Rio-Glencore deal off

 3. Coalition still divided

 4. Bullock in parliament

 5. NFL for MCG

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Afternoon Report | Worst markets day in 3 months

Friday 6 February 2026

The Reserve Bank warns that wages will not keep pace with inflation

 * Uranium stocks take a tumble as the AI debate continues
 * One Nation raises the prospect of joining the Coalition 
 * Bunnings wins the right to keep using facial recognition
 * The Winter Olympics gets underway in the Dolomites in northern Italy

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, seven signs you’re better with money than you think. 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.

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RBA wages warning; uranium stocks tumble; Google’s massive AI spend

Are Australia’s big department stores running out of road? In the US, iconic names like Saks and Macy’s are shrinking fast. At home, David Jones and Myer have both been closing stores as consumer behaviour shifts and online retail keeps growing.

Sean Aylmer speaks with retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology, about whether department stores can still survive - and if so, what they need to become.

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Q+A: Are we watching the slow death of David Jones and Myer?

This is the Fear and 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 dips, silver tumbles

 2. Attempted bombing declared terrorism

 3. Bunnings wins legal fight

 4. ICE agents withdraw

 5. Washington Post job cuts

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Afternoon Report | Attempted bombing declared terrorism

Thursday 5 February 2026

The federal government considers scaling back capital gains tax concessions for property investors. 

 * A tale of two markets with tech stocks dumped and miners surging
 * AustralianSuper loses funds to competitors for the first time in 20 years 
 * Still no re-unification for the federal coalition
 * Crypto’s market cap tumbles nearly half-a-trillion US dollars 

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, seven signs you’re better with money than you think. 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.

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CGT scale back for property investors; tech stocks hammered; $US500b crypto sell-off

After years of hype, ethical and green investing has cooled. But instead of going away, it's evolving.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Dugald Higgins, Head of Responsible Investment and Real Assets at Zenith Investment Partners, about where sustainable investing now sits, why Australia has held steady while other markets pulled back, the difference between ESG and sustainability, and how new climate reporting rules could reshape investment decisions.

This is general information only. Seek advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions.

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

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Q+A: After all the hype, green investing is 'growing up, not winding down'

This is the Fear and 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. Miners lift ASX

 2. Major defence land sell-off

 3. Airport delays as arrivals hit record

 4. WFH case could reshape rights

 5. Bill Gates on AI

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Afternoon Report | Miners lift ASX

Wednesday 4 February 2026

The Reserve Bank lifts interest rates and hints that there could be more hikes later in the year. 

 * The federal Coalition parties remain at odds over reuniting. 
 * Cheaper, challenger brands are winning the mobile battle in Australia. 
 * Elon Musk combines his two private companies as he pushes to develop data centres in space. 
 * US owned TikTok changes terms and conditions, upsetting users.

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, seven signs you’re better with money than you think. 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/]

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More rate hikes in 2026; Coalition at odds; challenger brands winning mobile battle

The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates for the first time in two years, and while the hike was widely expected by markets, not all economists thought the RBA would do it.

AMP Deputy Chief Economist Diana Mousina explains why the unanimous vote raised eyebrows, and why she believes this may still be a one-off adjustment rather than the start of a tightening cycle.

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Q+A: Did the RBA have no choice but to hike?

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.

 