FEAR & GREED | Business News

Another year of house price growth has been welcome news for homeowners, but a challenge for would-be buyers. Sean Aylmer is joined by Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis to unpack how the housing market finished 2025 - and what Westpac expects to see for national house prices in 2026. This episode is brought to you by Westpac. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tequila may not be your first thought as an investment. But the market is not just real, it's now expanding beyond the spirit itself. Michael Thompson is joined by Stefan von Imhof, co-founder of Alts.co, to explore why tequila can have a faster “appreciation cycle” than wine or whisky, and why premiumisation is lifting demand for higher-quality agave products. Stefan makes the case for tequila tourism: a Mexico-based version of Napa, the Barossa, or the bourbon trail. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great holidays don’t have to come with eye-watering price tags. Sean Aylmer speaks with Sammy Turpin from Luxury Escapes about where travellers can find genuine value in 2026, with a focus on the best cruises and a few other ideas too. This episode is brought to you by Luxury Escapes. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Hardie has had a horror year. The 136-year-old building supplies company made some big decisions that made investors very, very unhappy - including Gaurav Sodhi, Deputy Head of Research at Intelligent Investor. Gaurav takes Sean Aylmer through James Hardie's tough 2025, and explains why he titled one email about the company with "WTF." This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Household spending is the engine room of the economy, and one of the clearest indicators of cost-of-living pressure. Sean Aylmer talks to Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis about how consumers ended 2025 and what lies ahead. This episode is brought to you by Westpac. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian equities have come back toward fair value... but that doesn’t mean every sector is attractive. Sean Aylmer speaks with Morningstar equity market strategist Lachlan Halloway about why Morningstar now sees the ASX as fairly valued, where the opportunities are starting to emerge, and which parts of the market still look expensive. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular business news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A university degree no longer guarantees a smooth start to a career. Sean Aylmer speaks with Simon Kuestenmacher of The Demographics Group about degree inflation, why employers need fewer graduates, and how AI is automating many entry-level tasks. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Murdoch empire to Hollywood’s upheaval, the global media landscape is shifting fast. Michael Thompson talks to Tim Burrowes from Mumbrella and Unmade about Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s consolidation of power, the streaming wars, Hollywood’s structural challenges, and why Netflix, Amazon and Apple are reshaping old business models - just as AI emerges as a new threat. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Car dealerships don’t sound exciting, but they can be extraordinary wealth generators. Sean Aylmer is joined by Gaurav Sodhi, Deputy Head of Research at Intelligent Investor, to unpack the Eagers Automotive story. Gaurav explains why car dealerships are widely misunderstood by markets and how Eagers has quietly built a dominant position in Australia: everything from land ownership to electric vehicles brands like BYD. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Camping has grown up - and glamping is one of the fastest-growing travel trends. Sean Aylmer chats with Sonny Hawkins from Luxury Escapes about why 2026 could be the perfect year to try glamping. From luxury tents to unique nature-based stays, this is a look at why travellers are choosing the outdoors... with a few indulgent extras. This episode is brought to you by Luxury Escapes. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Free-to-air TV, newspapers and radio have all been declared “dead”... repeatedly. Michael Thompson speaks with Tim Burrowes, founder and publisher of Mumbrella and the Unmade newsletter, about the short-term future of Australia’s legacy media, from the big TV stations to networking radio shows like Kyle & Jackie O. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samsung and Apple went head-to-head in 2025, and the rivalry is only getting fiercer. Michael Thompson is joined by Stephen Fenech, editor of techguide.com.au, to assess who really came out on top. From Samsung’s aggressive release schedule - including foldables and even a trifold phone - to Apple’s late-year resurgence with the iPhone 17 and its professional-grade camera upgrades, Stephen breaks down the key battlegrounds. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private credit has exploded in popularity, drawing the attention of investors and regulators alike. Sean Aylmer is joined by Roger Montgomery from Montgomery Investment Management to explain why banks have stepped back from business lending, how non-bank lenders have filled the gap, and why private credit has become so attractive for income-seeking investors. Roger also outlines the key risks to watch for, and the importance of independent credit ratings when choosing a fund. Learn more about Montgomery’s private credit funds at www.montinvest.com/privatecredit For more information, visit www.montinvest.com or call 02 8046 5000. Follow Roger’s insights at www.rogermontgomery.com This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. This episode is brought to you by Montgomery Investment Management. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The $US15b sunken treasure vs Australia's economic sweet spot vs Sean's adventures working remotely in France: Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang each nominate the best good news story from the year, and choose a winner. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese's landslide election win vs the demise of the Coalition vs the world-leading social media ban. Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang each nominate their top political story from the year - and choose a winner. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is emerging as a serious biotech player, backed by world-class universities, grant funding, and a growing venture ecosystem. Michael Thompson speaks with Stefan von Imhof, co-founder of Alts.co, about why the local biotech scene is gaining momentum, and what that looks like in practice, from a company selling cultured meat in Australia, to one that allows drug testing on living human tissue. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's tariff wars vs Europe's reemergence as a global player vs China's rise. Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang each nominate their top international story from the year - and choose a winner. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia punches well above its weight in global tech, but many of its biggest success stories fly a little under the radar. Michael Thompson speaks with Stephen Fenech, editor of techguide.com.au, about the Australian companies making a global impact. From Canva’s rise as a design powerhouse, to Rode, Blackmagic Design, BlueAnt and Halfbrick, Stephen explains why Australian tech is so strong on the world stage. This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. All information is general in nature. If you want to invest, we recommend you visit a financial advisor who can tailor investments to your needs. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the incredible rise of AI - Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang each nominate their favourite story from the year. This is the gift that keeps on giving! This is Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, or just time away together, romantic travel is about slowing down... or is it? Sean Aylmer talks with Matt McNeil from Luxury Escapes about the best romantic holiday ideas for 2026 - with a few surprises thrown in. This episode is brought to you by Luxury Escapes. Fear & Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12. Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.