FEAR & GREED | Business News

Kevin Doyle, Regional VP for Agentforce and Data Cloud at Salesforce, shares his work deploying agentic AI across enterprises. He describes real-world adopters and practical use cases. He explains why most pilots fail and how to start with measurable wins. He tells the 8.5-hour lost-productivity story that convinced him of agentic AI’s speed and value.

Markets slip as the ASX hits a three-month low with miners and gold stocks tumbling. Regional volatility from a Middle East drone attack disrupts flights and rattles investors. Political polling shows One Nation surging while voters shift toward minor parties. A Nationals reshuffle brings leadership moves and a high-profile media figure steps aside amid criminal charges. Oscars wrap with Australians missing out.

Banks are pricing in an imminent RBA cash rate rise as inflation and oil-driven costs heat up. Housing auctions and the ASX show a sudden market softening and steep sector losses. YouTube has overtaken Disney in annual revenue, reshaping media rankings. Immutep’s trial cancellation triggered a dramatic share collapse and Porsche is cutting jobs after rethinking its EV strategy.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator known as 'The Kook', offers macroeconomic analysis. He discusses the RBA board's likely hawkish tilt and who might push for a rate hike. He explains why oil price swings matter for inflation and policymaking. He previews how this week's labour force figures could shape monetary decisions.

A rapid-fire Q&A about how often people still use cash and where it matters. They talk about banknote redesigns sparking questions, quick Facebook Marketplace cash sales, and cash at school fairs and country stalls. Conversation covers receiving cash from kids or friends and whether life would change if cash disappeared tomorrow.

A lively rundown of markets reacting to Middle East tensions and the oil price shock. Discussion about RBA commentary, interest rate expectations and inflation projections. A comparison of petrol versus EV running costs and ownership. Coverage of tech moves from Atlassian and Anthropic, plus a spotlight on Aussie robo-taxi advances and regulatory shifts for adult-site access.

Markets reacted to a spike in oil and the release of diesel reserves, pushing the ASX lower. A proposed $105 million Qantas settlement and removal of credit expiry dates were discussed. Iron ore shipments were rerouted amid Middle East tensions, lifting freight costs and ore prices. Rising inflation forecasts increased the odds of consecutive central bank rate rises.

Oil prices spike after supply disruptions, sparking petrol and travel concerns. Australia eases petrol rules and households show the first dip in spending since 2024. Atlassian slashes 1,600 roles to pivot toward AI. Personal fraud climbs to affect one in seven Australians. Netflix snaps up an AI film studio and the UK plans wildlife-themed banknotes.

Michael Ackland, Telstra CFO who leads investor engagement and finance strategy, outlines the company’s AI-first ambition. He discusses AI in customer service, using chatbots and generative tools to cut wait times. He covers data and staff training, infrastructure as a competitive moat, and ways to avoid over-capitalising while keeping vendor flexibility.

Markets tumble as oil spikes after tanker attacks, driving big stock swings. The Aussie dollar hits a four-year high amid rate-rise expectations. A senior royal commission adviser unexpectedly resigns. KFC ramps expansion in Germany and the Netherlands. The US opens fresh trade probes into multiple countries and the EU.