Record growth in loans and deposits has pushed Commonwealth Bank’s half year profit to $5.4 billion, triggering a seven per cent jump in its share price.

In a wide-ranging chat, CBA CEO Matt Comyn speaks with Juliette Saly from Ausbiz about competition from Macquarie, housing supply reform, AI investment, productivity, regional branches, workforce impacts, mortgage stress, and whether Australia’s largest bank can justify being the most expensive bank in the developed world.


Fear & Greed is proud to partner with Ausbiz, Australia's leading provider of live and on-demand video of the latest news in Australian business, markets, economy and startups. Sign up for free at ausbiz.com.au

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As artificial intelligence explodes, electricity demand is fast becoming one of the biggest constraints on growth. Data centres are consuming vast amounts of power, and access to the grid is emerging as a critical bottleneck - not just in Australia, but globally.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Jack Curtis, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Neara, Australia’s newest tech unicorn. Neara has just raised $90 million at a valuation above $1 billion, aiming to help electricity networks unlock more capacity and meet surging AI-driven demand.

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Reporting season is underway, and after last year’s wild share price swings, investors are bracing for more volatility.

Sean Aylmer speaks to Ben Gilbert, Head of Australian Research at Jarden, about the companies he's watching, which sectors could surprise, where the risks lie, and how interest rates and AI are shaping results.

Fear and Greed is not a financial advice podcast. The information provided is general in nature and you should seek advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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This week we get household spending as well as lending data, giving an insight into the state of the economy, and whether the RBA made the right call increasing interest rates last week. Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas.

Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer & Michael Thompson and the team as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question, get in touch via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook!

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This week the Washington Post (owned by Amazon's Jeff Bezos) sacked 300 journalists, reducing its newsroom by about a third. Michael and Sean talk about the impact of the decision, the business of newspapers, and Sean's own experience of having to make major changes to newsrooms.

Fear & Greed Q+A: Join Sean Aylmer, Michael Thompson and Adam Lang as they answer questions on business, investing, economics, politics and more. If you have your own question, get in touch via our website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

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Are Australia’s big department stores running out of road? In the US, iconic names like Saks and Macy’s are shrinking fast. At home, David Jones and Myer have both been closing stores as consumer behaviour shifts and online retail keeps growing.

Sean Aylmer speaks with retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology, about whether department stores can still survive - and if so, what they need to become.

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After years of hype, ethical and green investing has cooled. But instead of going away, it's evolving.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Dugald Higgins, Head of Responsible Investment and Real Assets at Zenith Investment Partners, about where sustainable investing now sits, why Australia has held steady while other markets pulled back, the difference between ESG and sustainability, and how new climate reporting rules could reshape investment decisions.

This is general information only. Seek advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates for the first time in two years, and while the hike was widely expected by markets, not all economists thought the RBA would do it.

AMP Deputy Chief Economist Diana Mousina explains why the unanimous vote raised eyebrows, and why she believes this may still be a one-off adjustment rather than the start of a tightening cycle.

Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/

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