FEAR & GREED | Business News Afternoon Report | ASX drops, Hastie out of leadership race
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Jan 30, 2026 Markets fall on speculation about US central bank leadership and fallout for gold and miners. A major political candidate steps back from a leadership contest amid funding deal talk. Media consolidation sparks a big sale and an $850m outdoor ad purchase. Health authorities monitor an overseas Nipah virus outbreak. Tech news highlights record iPhone sales and AI-related moves.
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Fed Speculation Drove Market Moves
- Markets reacted sharply to US Fed chair speculation, hitting gold and miners hard today.
- The prospect of a less-aggressive-rate-cut Fed candidate pushed commodity prices and the Aussie dollar lower.
Sector Winners And Losers Today
- Gold miners and iron ore producers were particularly hard hit amid global moves.
- Healthcare stocks rose locally ahead of a possible Reserve Bank interest-rate decision next week.
Liberal Leadership Uncertainty Pauses
- Andrew Hastie withdrew from the Liberal leadership contest, leaving the spill on ice.
- Susan Ley may entrench a Liberal-only shadow cabinet if the Nationals do not rejoin within a week.