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


Roundtable boilover


Xero investors reject pay packet


Unions push WFH


Israel calls up reservists

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>
Roundtable boilover
</li>
<li>
Xero investors reject pay packet
</li>
<li>
Unions push WFH
</li>
<li>
Israel calls up reservists
</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 | ASX breaks 9000 points

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/83793ca2-bff4-4545-96e6-b3400076e111/transcript

Friday 20 February 2026

Telstra announces a jump in its dividend as its mobile business powers earnings, just as Wesfarmers provides a note of caution about consumer spending. 
The unemployment rate last month came in at 4.1 per cent, upping the chance of an interest rate hike in coming months. 
The local share market hits an all-time high. 
Mark Zuckerberg concedes it is difficult to enforce age limits on social media. The era of super-sized meals might be coming to an end.

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.

Friday 20 February 2026
Telstra announces a jump in its dividend as its mobile business powers earnings, just as Wesfarmers provides a note of caution about consumer spending.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The unemployment rate last month came in at 4.1 per cent, upping the chance of an interest rate hike in coming months.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">The local share market hits an all-time high.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Mark Zuckerberg concedes it is difficult to enforce age limits on social media. The era of super-sized meals might be coming to an end.</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.

Telstra boosts dividends; labour market stays tight; end of the supersize meal era?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/66e4f917-32b6-4def-836c-b3f600a31c43/transcript

Wesfarmers has reported a jump in sales and a better-than-expected net profit of $1.6 billion for the December half. But CEO Rob Scott warns households are feeling the full impact of inflation and interest rates.

In a wide-ranging conversaiton, Sean Aylmer speaks with Rob Scott about the consumer outlook, productivity initiatives across Bunnings and Kmart, the future of lithium and chemicals, the strategy behind Target, and how AI is being deployed across the group.

Wesfarmers has reported a jump in sales and a better-than-expected net profit of $1.6 billion for the December half. But CEO Rob Scott warns households are feeling the full impact of inflation and interest rates. In a wide-ranging conversaiton, Sean Aylmer speaks with Rob Scott about the consumer outlook, productivity initiatives across Bunnings and Kmart, the future of lithium and chemicals, the strategy behind Target, and how AI is being deployed across the group.

Q+A: Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott on Bunnings, Kmart & Target

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/3bebfe7b-4975-4565-9e92-b3f600a31946/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.


ASX soars, unemployment stable


Aussie giants report results


PM’s‘contempt’ for ISIS brides


ACCC targets Temu, Shein


US-Iran tensions build

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>
ASX soars, unemployment stable
</li>
<li>
Aussie giants report results
</li>
<li>
PM&rsquo;s&lsquo;contempt&rsquo; for ISIS brides
</li>
<li>
ACCC targets Temu, Shein
</li>
<li>
US-Iran tensions build
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | ASX rises on bumper results day

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/f9a0bf4d-d319-4880-9404-b3f60062c886/transcript

Afternoon Report | ASX breaks 9000 points

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