FEAR & GREED | Business News Afternoon Report | Inflation jumps, AUD soars
Jan 28, 2026
CPI surges and the AUD rockets to a three-year high as markets rethink rate moves. Tech stocks wobble while miners and energy firms rally. Amazon's push into fresh food delivery shakes up grocery rivals. Political fallout brews over a controversial Jerusalem speech. A major logistics firm plans large-scale job cuts and network reshaping.
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Inflation Surge Tightens Rate Bets
- Australia's CPI jumped more than expected in the December quarter, shifting market expectations toward tighter RBA policy.
- Markets now price a 75% chance of a rate hike next week, and the AUD hit a three-year high at 70.22 US cents.
Sector Rotation After CPI Shock
- Rate-sensitive tech stocks fell sharply after the CPI surprise, with several big names down multiple percent.
- Gold miners and energy stocks rose as investors rotated into defensive and commodity-exposed sectors amid higher gold and oil prices.
Prioritise Grocery Delivery Capacity
- Retailers should prioritise delivery capability as online grocery sales near 11% of the market.
- The Amazon–Harris Farm deal shows last-mile partnerships can quickly reshape competition and consumer choice.