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 2.2pc for week

 2. Fuel prices hit Coles

 3. Cyclone Narelle crosses Cape York

 4. Smiggle sales drop

 5. Europe, Japan to help clear Strait of Hormuz

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Afternoon Report | ASX down for week

Friday 20 March 2026

The National Cabinet establishes a fuel taskforce as the competition watchdog launches an investigation into the petrol companies. 

 * The unemployment rate jumps to 4.3 per cent
 * International airfares, having already risen, are set to go even higher
 * The richest 250 Australians revealed
 * Gas supplies targeted in the war in the Middle East

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: dream holiday, sensible budget. 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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ACCC investigates petrol stations; unemployment jumps; airfares set to rise

Australian businesses are under pressure — rising costs, tighter margins and the push to adopt AI.

But many companies may be trying to solve the wrong problem - Instead of focusing on roles, they should be focusing on tasks, because much of the work being done today is unnecessary, duplicated, or simply too expensive.
 
Jarra Borman is the Director of Strategy at consultancy Outrun Global. He speaks to Sean Aylmer about why businesses are “tanking their own capacity”, why employees spend just 27% of their time on skilled work, and how a simple shift in thinking can unlock major productivity gains.

To find out more, Outrun's new guide: The Top 10 Tasks to Optimise for the Biggest Impact is available here [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://go.outrun.global/fearandgreed&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774358874720407&usg=AOvVaw3VZNhfFdA7E1s4phWrHRdb].

Outrun Global is a supporter of Fear & Greed.

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

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

Q+A: Only 27% of work actually matters - here’s the fix

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 falls 1.7pc 

 2. PM calls for Iran de-escalation

 3. US Fed keeps rates on hold

 4. Radio ratings

 5. Drones over US military base

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

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Afternoon Report | ASX tumbles

Thursday 19 March 2026

Two of Australia’s biggest companies BHP and Woodside Energy are getting new CEOs, adding to the growing list of recently appointed bosses of large companies on the ASX.

 * PM Anthony Albanese says he is confident Australia can avoid a recession
 * The federal government is set to appoint a new petrol czar
 * The latest on the Middle East
 * The world of shipping is turned upside down

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: dream holiday, sensible budget. 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.

BHP and Woodside get new CEOs; PM: we’ll avoid recession; new petrol czar

A Formula One sponsorship is much more than a logo on a car. It’s an opportunity to reach hundreds of millions of people - but only if you know how.

In this special documentary episode, we’re exploring the business of sports sponsorship with Airwallex and Airtasker.

It’s part of Fear & Greed's Accelerator series this month, talking to ambitious Australian leaders taking their businesses to the world: Employment Hero, Camplify, EatClub and more - brought to you by Airwallex.

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

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

The business of sports partnerships

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 up 0.3pc

 2. Trump criticises allies

 3. ARN terminates Kyle Sandilands

 4. EV adoption higher in cities

 5. Warner Bros CEO’s monster payout

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 climbs

Wednesday 18 March 2026

The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates, but it was a close call, and another rate hike in May is no longer a sure thing. 

 * The competition regulator warns petrol stations over the price of fuel
 * Australia heads towards a free trade deal with the EU
 * The beneficial effects of medicinal cannabis questioned in a new study
 * The extraordinary efforts Asian countries are going to, to conserve fuel

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: dream holiday, sensible budget. 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 rise in split decision; ACCC warns patrol stations; Australia-EU free trade deal

Yesterday the Reserve Bank increased the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1 per cent. It’s the second rate hike in a row - but while last time the decision was unanimous, this time it was much closer, with the board split 5-4.

Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, explains what that split means for the next RBA meeting in May, and the key factors that contributed to yesterday's rate hike.

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

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Q+A: The RBA was split on rates - so what happens 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. 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

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.

 