US hits Europe with Greenland tariffs; PM waters down racial bill; cancer success soars

Monday 19 January 2026 The World Economic Forum kicks off tonight in Davos, 48 hours after US President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on European Allies, which will remain until they agree to sell him Greenland.  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelves half his racial vilification legislation as pa…

Q+A: The Week Ahead | 19 Jan 2026

This first Week Ahead episode of 2026 highlights a patchwork economy. Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas to look at why inflation data is still noisy, why Black Friday distortions matter, how consumer spending is improving, and what businesses should focus on as confidence an…

A guide to luxury holidays in 2026

Luxury travel is evolving - it’s no longer just about five-star hotels, but about experiences, space, food and service. Michael Thompson chats with Dylan O'Brien from Luxury Escapes about what luxury travel looks like in 2026, where Australians are heading, and how travellers are redefining what “l…

Gen X’s 'dirty fantasy': the four-day work week

Is the four-day work week realistic, or just wishful thinking? Sean Aylmer talks to Simon Kuestenmacher from The Demographics Group about why Gen X is obsessed with work-life balance, and what global trials really show. Simon explains why productivity hasn’t collapsed in some experiments - and why …

Dividend investing: How to pick quality income stocks

Australian investors love dividends, and franking credits only add to the appeal. But picking dividend stocks isn’t as simple as buying whatever yielded the most last year. Sean Aylmer talks to Morningstar strategist Lachlan Halloway about what actually makes a dividend sustainable, why ASX yields …

Hate legislation on shaky ground; air traffic chaos; Hollywood’s highest grossing actor

Friday 16 January 2026 The federal Opposition and Greens indicate they won’t support the government hate speech legislation next week.  A shortage of air traffic controllers causes chaos across the country Households up their spending NASA performs its first ever medical evacuation Hollywood star …

Our $9 billion export that nobody talks about

Global markets have faced renewed volatility following the election of Donald Trump, but how much does it really matter for Australia? Sean Aylmer is joined by Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis to discuss the US, China and the forces shaping the global outlook in 2026. Luci also highlights a fast-…

Alphabet hits $US4 trillion; Coalition baulks at hate laws; record year for ETFs

Thursday 15 January 2026 Alphabet, the parent company of Google, hits a $US4 trillion valuation, making it the second largest stock on Wall Street.  The federal opposition baulks at supporting Labor’s anti-vilification laws  A record year for ETFs in Australia House and unit rents are set to stabi…

Kmart's Anko and Bunnings: Wesfarmers' secret sauce

Wesfarmers is one of the most remarkable success stories on the ASX - a diversified conglomerate thriving in a world where many have failed. Sean Aylmer speaks with Gaurav Sodhi, Deputy Head of Research at Intelligent Investor, about what makes Wesfarmers different. From the extraordinary rise of K…

Aussie housing hits $12.3 tr; Woolies AI for shoppers; world’s fastest growing app

Wednesday 14 January 2026 The value of the Australian housing market hits $12.3 trillion, but the pace of price rises are expected to slow this year.  Kevin Rudd steps down as Australia’s ambassador to the US.  The new boss of Endeavour has good news for drinkers - the group’s bottle shops and pub…