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 lower


Bitcoin hits record


Luxury car tax


Rio bauxite expansion


Trump accepts plane gift

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 lower
</li>
<li>
Bitcoin hits record
</li>
<li>
Luxury car tax
</li>
<li>
Rio bauxite expansion
</li>
<li>
Trump accepts plane gift
</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 | Markets, tax and planes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/23b5fb9a-512e-4904-8bd2-b2e500758da3/transcript

At one point in 2025, it looked like inflation had been beaten. Sean Aylmer speaks with Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis about what surprised economists late in the year, how much of the rise in inflation is “noise” versus something more persistent, and what this means for the Reserve Bank and Westpac's predictions for interest rates.

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.

At one point in 2025, it looked like inflation had been beaten. Sean Aylmer speaks with Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis about what surprised economists late in the year, how much of the rise in inflation is &ldquo;noise&rdquo; versus something more persistent, and what this means for the Reserve Bank and Westpac's predictions for interest rates.
This episode is brought to you by Westpac. Fear &amp; Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.

What inflation (and interest rates) will do this year

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/18c6ef04-fef9-4243-9389-b3cf00b28aee/transcript

Monday 12 January 2026

Fires in Victoria and floods in Queensland threaten lives and property, as federal and state governments step in to offer financial assistance. 
BHP closes in on Commonwealth Bank in the race to be the country’s largest company. 
Investors and economists are split on whether the Reserve Bank will hike rates in 2026. 
Rio Tinto and Glencore in discussions to create the world’s biggest ming company.
Investors take a punt that a $13 billion bid for BlueScope Steel will ultimately succeed.

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, six financial goals for 2026. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Monday 12 January 2026
Fires in Victoria and floods in Queensland threaten lives and property, as federal and state governments step in to offer financial assistance.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">BHP closes in on Commonwealth Bank in the race to be the country&rsquo;s largest company.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Investors and economists are split on whether the Reserve Bank will hike rates in 2026.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Rio Tinto and Glencore in discussions to create the world&rsquo;s biggest ming company.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Investors take a punt that a $13 billion bid for BlueScope Steel will ultimately succeed.</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, six financial goals for 2026. 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.

Fire, floods disasters; BHP closes on CBA as top stock; rate cut guessing game

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/958b98ff-7e88-4a8e-b005-b3cf00b19434/transcript

Travelling with kids can be magical - if you pick the right trip. Michael Thompson speaks with Luke Humphries from Luxury Escapes about the best family holiday ideas for 2026 - from local theme parks, to international destinations.

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.

Travelling with kids can be magical - if you pick the right trip. Michael Thompson speaks with Luke Humphries from Luxury Escapes about the best family holiday ideas for 2026 - from local theme parks, to international destinations.
This episode is brought to you by Luxury Escapes. Fear &amp; Greed's summer series - all-new short episodes every day, with regular news back from January 12.

The best family holidays in 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/e75bf9c9-7aec-46be-b1f5-b3bc00708b35/transcript

Afternoon Report | Markets, tax and planes

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