The Fin

A deep dive into the thin line between casual gossip and criminal insider trading. Real-life cases show how small tips and modest gains can trigger serious legal trouble. Experts unpack the psychological motives and typical offender profiles. Regulators' frustrations and a looming crackdown on weak sentences take center stage.

Emma Rappaport, co-editor covering investment banking and corporate deals, and Jonathan Shapiro, senior markets and corporate reporter, break down the Magellan–Barrenjoey tie-up. They discuss the deal mechanics and reverse takeover feel. They explore Barrenjoey’s rapid rise, its generous pay and equity model creating paper millionaires, plus retention, governance and valuation debates.

Anthony Macdonald, Chanticleer columnist offering bull and bear market takes. Amelia McGuire, technology reporter with on-site reporting and the Oliver Curtis profile. They cover AI factories and why Australia could host them. They trace Firmus’s pivot from mining to liquid-cooled AI centres. They discuss big deals with Nvidia and Blackstone, Curtis’s past and whether Firmus can meet sky-high expectations.

Sam Buckingham-Jones, an AFR media reporter who covers radio and broadcasting, breaks down the Kyle and Jackie O implosion. He traces how an on-air spat became corporate ASX news. He details the massive contract, why Melbourne launch failed, advertiser backlash and whether ARN can use the dispute to exit the deal.

Peter Ker, a resources reporter tracking mining, commodities and the energy transition, discusses BHP’s shift from iron ore to copper. He outlines why copper is surging and miners’ dealmaking to secure supply. He also covers long-term pressures on iron ore, China’s pricing moves, and Australia’s strategy to stay a resources powerhouse.

This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown. This podcast is sponsored by Vanta Further reading:WiseTech drops Australia’s first AI jobs bombRapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the companies most at risk of disruption leading the charge.AI comes for the software giants, and Australia is no safe havenOne venture capitalist warns there will be “roadkill”. Another says the market is “schizoid”. Artificial intelligence is making tech increasingly turbulent.Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei warns AI has the potential to tear society apartDario Amodei’s Anthropic is behind the most popular AI platform for businesses worldwide, but he has serious worries about the technology tearing society apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lidija Ivanovski, former Labor adviser and AFR columnist, offers campaign-focused perspective. Phillip Coorey, AFR political editor, brings polling and leadership expertise. They debate Angus Taylor and Jane Hume’s change-or-die pitch. They unpack Taylor’s public image, Tim Wilson’s treasury role, the One Nation surge and whether the Liberals can fend off protest voters.

Lucy King, an investigative financial journalist at the Australian Financial Review, outlines a sprawling global scam network that victimized tens of thousands. She traces links between international call centres and Australian victims. Short segments unpack how operators run many coordinated scams, a Belgrade raid that exposed client lists, and local links tied to banking and corporate registries.

James Ayres, senior reporter at the Australian Financial Review known for business and markets coverage, dives into the Linfox family saga. He traces Lindsay Fox's rise from one truck to a logistics empire. He outlines Peter Fox's sudden sabbatical, non-family directors stepping into key roles, Armaguard's crisis and who might inherit control of the group.

Jessica Gardner, US correspondent for the Australian Financial Review based in Washington DC, discusses Trump’s chaotic return and rapid policy moves. She highlights high-profile White House incidents, the influencers shaping Trump’s agenda, and Mark Carney’s warning on the rules-based order. She also considers whether Australia should publicly challenge Trump and the case for a technocratic ambassador.