This is the Fear & 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.


RBA hikes interest rates


Challenger lowers Pepper Money bid


Naveed Akram in court


Atlassian facing action over sacked worker


Trump to delay China meeting

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This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear &amp; 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 data-start="0" data-end="185" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">
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RBA hikes interest rates
</li>
<li data-section-id="nl08zv" data-start="32" data-end="76">
Challenger lowers Pepper Money bid
</li>
<li data-section-id="8c03ce" data-start="77" data-end="108">
Naveed Akram in court
</li>
<li data-section-id="137m4il" data-start="109" data-end="150">
Atlassian facing action over sacked worker
</li>
<li data-section-id="1d04aqn" data-start="151" data-end="185" data-is-last-node="">
Trump to delay China meeting
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

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>

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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 | RBA hikes rates

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/525457aa-22d5-46d7-8558-b410005ef932/transcript

Wednesday 18 March 2026

The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates, but it was a close call, and another rate hike in May is no longer a sure thing. 
The competition regulator warns petrol stations over the price of fuel
Australia heads towards a free trade deal with the EU
The beneficial effects of medicinal cannabis questioned in a new study
The extraordinary efforts Asian countries are going to, to conserve fuel

Join our free daily newsletter here.

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week: dream holiday, sensible budget. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Wednesday 18 March 2026
The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates, but it was a close call, and another rate hike in May is no longer a sure thing.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The competition regulator warns petrol stations over the price of fuel</li>
<li aria-level="1">Australia heads towards a free trade deal with the EU</li>
<li aria-level="1">The beneficial effects of medicinal cannabis questioned in a new study</li>
<li aria-level="1">The extraordinary efforts Asian countries are going to, to conserve fuel</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: dream holiday, sensible budget. 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.

Rates rise in split decision; ACCC warns patrol stations; Australia-EU free trade deal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/6b3c2352-e70e-442d-a18b-b41000e6908c/transcript

Yesterday the Reserve Bank increased the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1 per cent. It’s the second rate hike in a row - but while last time the decision was unanimous, this time it was much closer, with the board split 5-4.

Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, explains what that split means for the next RBA meeting in May, and the key factors that contributed to yesterday's rate hike.

Yesterday the Reserve Bank increased the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1 per cent. It&rsquo;s the second rate hike in a row - but while last time the decision was unanimous, this time it was much closer, with the board split 5-4. Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, explains what that split means for the next RBA meeting in May, and the key factors that contributed to yesterday's rate hike.

Q+A: The RBA was split on rates - so what happens next?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/02c1c90d-cdcf-4702-bece-b41000e68e44/transcript

Tuesday 17 March 2026

The ASX hits its lowest point this year, and the only big winners so far in 2026 have been energy companies. 
The RBA is expected to announce a 25-basis point rate hike this afternoon
Major lenders fighting what could be billions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent home loans
The corporate regulator tells younger Australians to sense check the financial advice they are receiving online
Donald Trump threatens NATO after allies decide not to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz


Plus the next interview in our Accelerator series with Airwallex. Today’s guest: Pan Koutlakis, from EatClub, on spotting a niche and building a global business.

Tuesday 17 March 2026
The ASX hits its lowest point this year, and the only big winners so far in 2026 have been energy companies.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The RBA is expected to announce a 25-basis point rate hike this afternoon</li>
<li aria-level="1">Major lenders fighting what could be billions of dollars&rsquo; worth of fraudulent home loans</li>
<li aria-level="1">The corporate regulator tells younger Australians to sense check the financial advice they are receiving online</li>
<li aria-level="1">Donald Trump threatens NATO after allies decide not to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz</li>
</ul>
 Plus the next interview in our Accelerator series with <a href="https://www.airwallex.com/">Airwallex</a>. Today&rsquo;s guest: Pan Koutlakis, from EatClub, on spotting a niche and building a global business.

ASX hits three month low; ASIC’s social media warning; Trump threatens NATO

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/00dc98d3-a1e7-4b69-8a99-b40f00fb3fb3/transcript

Afternoon Report | RBA hikes rates

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