Australia's AAA credit rating is at risk from big-spending election promises. What is a credit rating, and why does it matter?

Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more.

If you have your own question for Ask Fear & Greed, get in touch via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook!

Australia's AAA credit rating is at risk from big-spending election promises. What is a credit rating, and why does it matter? Join Sean Aylmer &amp; Michael Thompson as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question for Ask Fear &amp; Greed, get in touch via our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://fearandgreed.com.au&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1746275663186969&amp;usg=AOvVaw3UgC48QTsTEGFF3Nfw8Wdq">website</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/fear-and-greed&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1746275663186969&amp;usg=AOvVaw12aEhiUHiCLf3INrCPOxK1">LinkedIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/fearandgreedpodcast/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1746275663186969&amp;usg=AOvVaw3FOfBq9M67wsM0q6kTtYxg">Instagram</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/FearAndGreedPodcast&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1746275663186969&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Ix64d8Uf4zogYTmooPcyT">Facebook</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>

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

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics. 

Got a question? Share it via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, and get it answered by the Fear & Greed team.

Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics.&nbsp;
Got a&nbsp;question? Share it via our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://fearandgreed.com.au&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw1HZbjwVzd0KVNX_Nj77aql">website</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/fear-and-greed&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw2idXkiO2ADJk9vNayUJoEU">LinkedIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/fearandgreedpodcast/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw2imBHzuvcQNVIjANKic57B">Instagram</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/FearAndGreedPodcast&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1751335061469871&amp;usg=AOvVaw10gu_Ebz3IYwqq_hchg7Km">Facebook</a>, and get it answered by the Fear &amp; Greed team.

Short, sharp answers to questions about business, investing, economics or politics. 

Fear & Greed Q+A

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>

Ask Fear & Greed: Why does a AAA credit rating matter?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/40d609ab-5199-49a6-8dc6-b2cd00cf45a9/transcript

Fear & Greed is proud to share an episode of our sister podcast - How Do They Afford That? - out every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts.


Today's episode is based on a listener question from Chris - who set an investing goal, and is now about to achieve it much earlier than they thought. Join Canna Campbell - a financial planner for 20 years - and Fear & Greed's Michael Thompson as they answer Chris's question about setting financial goals, and dealing with the volatility and fluctuations of markets. 

Canna and Michael have written a book! Twelve Months to Financial Freedom will hit the shelves on September 1 - but you can preorder your copy right now.

---

The information in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of it and the relevant product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or other offer document prior to acquiring any financial product.

​Canna Campbell is an Authorised Representative and Financial Adviser of Links Licensee Services Pty Ltd AFSL No. 700012 ABN 97 678 975 589.

Fear &amp; Greed is proud to share an episode of our sister podcast - How Do They Afford That? - out every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode is based on a listener question from Chris - who set an investing goal, and is now about to achieve it much earlier than they thought. Join&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/sugarmammatv/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787750809640166&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PhafOisZISydomrdiguyB">Canna Campbell</a>&nbsp;- a financial planner for 20 years - and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787750809640166&amp;usg=AOvVaw0oaxqwS8UO2TEvbvwfsFYH">Fear &amp; Greed</a>'s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/michaelthompsonauthor/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787750809640166&amp;usg=AOvVaw0B_Zv9e5VWxjq7VJQB6GhM">Michael Thompson</a>&nbsp;as they answer Chris's question about setting financial goals, and dealing with the volatility and fluctuations of markets.&nbsp; Canna and Michael have written a book!&nbsp;Twelve Months to Financial Freedom&nbsp;will hit the shelves on September 1 - but you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bigw.com.au/product/twelve-months-to-financial-freedom-by-canna-campbell-and-michael-thompson/p/6082965?srsltid%3DAfmBOoqOyLzvmSzi-ox_ecxJz_fD1p54p3rNhbKY36nnwDGxWwmdHp3i&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787750809640166&amp;usg=AOvVaw3CpRbLwSlIA9zDSVEFyOjZ">preorder your copy right now</a>.
---
The information in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of it and the relevant product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or other offer document prior to acquiring any financial product. ​Canna Campbell is an&nbsp;Authorised Representative and Financial Adviser of Links Licensee Services Pty Ltd AFSL No. 700012 ABN 97 678 975 589.

The market hit my goal before I did

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/b2b0e8f1-5403-437f-a692-b4ad00dbe0f7/transcript

The serious, the surprising and the slightly ridiculous - welcome to the Saturday Edition.

This week: what earnings season is telling us about consumers and interest rates, a potential breakthrough in melanoma treatment, Australia’s trillion-dollar debt milestone, tobacco tax reform... and the badly stuffed “fox” that turned out to be a Tasmanian tiger.

Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson go head-to-head, with Adam Lang picking the winner.

Join our free daily newsletter here.

The serious, the surprising and the slightly ridiculous - welcome to the Saturday Edition. This week: what earnings season is telling us about consumers and interest rates, a potential breakthrough in melanoma treatment, Australia&rsquo;s trillion-dollar debt milestone, tobacco tax reform... and the badly stuffed &ldquo;fox&rdquo; that turned out to be a Tasmanian tiger. Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson go head-to-head, with Adam Lang picking the winner. Join our<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787750809640166&amp;usg=AOvVaw1zGfcy_klmogj_422oTcy6">&nbsp;free daily newsletter here</a>.

The Saturday Edition | 22 Aug 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/54a0968c-b630-4dc4-9971-b4ad00dbdd79/transcript

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.


ASX ends lower
Runway near collision


Steadfast to leave ASX


ARN loss on Kylie, Jackie O implosion


Walmart slumps

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the <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>
<li aria-level="1">
ASX ends lower
</li>
<li aria-level="1">Runway near collision</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Steadfast to leave ASX
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
ARN loss on Kylie, Jackie O implosion
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Walmart slumps
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | Higher oil price hits ASX

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/322592ca-130c-4926-93d1-b4ad006d28e1/transcript

Ask Fear & Greed: Why does a AAA credit rating matter?

In 2 playlist(s)

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips