BHP bumper profit, dividends; rate hikes on RBA agenda; Taylor’s new frontbench

Wednesday 18 February 2026 BHP announces a bumper half year profit as its copper division earnings surpass iron ore.  * The minutes of last fortnight’s Reserve Bank board meeting suggest another rate hike is possible.  * The IMF calls on Australia to cut income taxes and lift the GST.  * Angus Taylor announces his new frontbench.  * The real story about Winter Olympic ski jumpers having injections into their penises to gain an advantage. 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, the kids’ money blueprint. 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.