This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
ASX closes up
PM Albanese ends his 4-day Washington trip


Harvey Norman's rapid slowdown in sales


SafeWork Australia recommends a ban on engineered stone
US forces conduct strikes in Syria

This is the <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear and Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li>ASX closes up</li>
<li>PM Albanese ends his 4-day Washington trip</li>
<li>
Harvey Norman's rapid slowdown in sales
</li>
<li>
SafeWork Australia recommends a ban on engineered stone
</li>
<li>US forces conduct strikes in Syria</li>
</ol>

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Afternoon Report | A second straight week of losses

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.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, the kids’ money blueprint. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Wednesday 18 February 2026
BHP announces a bumper half year profit as its copper division earnings surpass iron ore.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The minutes of last fortnight&rsquo;s Reserve Bank board meeting suggest another rate hike is possible.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">The IMF calls on Australia to cut income taxes and lift the GST.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Angus Taylor announces his new frontbench.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">The real story about Winter Olympic ski jumpers having injections into their penises to gain an advantage.</li>
</ul>
Join our<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup"> free daily newsletter here</a>.
And don&rsquo;t miss the latest episode of<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/"> How Do They Afford That?</a> - this week, the kids&rsquo; money blueprint. Get the episode from<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235"> APPLE</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14"> SPOTIFY</a>, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/e1abf744-a86d-4ce4-9e26-b3f400acef2d/transcript

For the first time, copper has passed iron ore as the main source of revenue for BHP.  Vandita Pant, Chief Financial Officer at BHP, speaks to Andrew Geoghegan at Ausbiz about the company's bumper half-year results.

Fear & Greed is proud to partner with Ausbiz, Australia's leading provider of live and on-demand video of the latest news in Australian business, markets, economy and startups. Sign up for free at ausbiz.com.au

For the first time, copper has passed iron ore as the main source of revenue for BHP.&nbsp; Vandita Pant, Chief Financial Officer at BHP, speaks to Andrew Geoghegan at Ausbiz about the company's bumper half-year results. Fear &amp; Greed is proud to partner with Ausbiz, Australia's leading provider of live and on-demand video of the latest news in Australian business, markets, economy and startups. Sign up for free at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ausbiz.com.au/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1771756206525417&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Ox7OQQs8TpQJv3EGvzxGY">ausbiz.com.au</a>

Q+A: BHP CFO on the big copper bet that paid off

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/621f0405-1435-49e0-aa78-b3f400aced2c/transcript

This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.


BHP results boost ASX


Angus Taylor tackles childcare


Company results wrap


Major energy project blowout


$100m Pentagon drone challenge

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear and Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li>
BHP results boost ASX
</li>
<li>
Angus Taylor tackles childcare
</li>
<li>
Company results wrap
</li>
<li>
Major energy project blowout
</li>
<li>
$100m Pentagon drone challenge
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | BHP results boost ASX

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/58902403-fffc-45b6-a3a5-b3f40060bc05/transcript

Afternoon Report | A second straight week of losses

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