July 15, 2025 • 6 mins
Wednesday 16 July 2025
The top five business stories in five minutes, with Sean Aylmer and Adam Lang.
- Albo-Xi to push through trade turmoil
- ASX hits record high
- RBA wants to ban card charges
- Consumers are changing the way they shop
- The secret conversations between insects and plants
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's Wednesday, the sixteenth of July twenty twenty five. Welcome
to the Fast five by Fear and Greed, where we
give you the top five business stories you need to
know in just five minutes. I'm Adam Lang and good morning,
Sean Almer.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good morning, Adam.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Sean's story number one. Prime Minister Anthony Albanesi met with
Chinese President Jijingping yesterday in the Great Hall of the
People near Tianamin Square in Beijing. It was a cordial affair,
with Ji congratulating Alberanesi on his re election, saying that
it is important that international turbulence doesn't derail improvements in
the China Australia relationship.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
She talked about the need to treat people equally in
for the two countries to seek common ground and pursue
mutually beneficial cooperation. He alluded to the reproachment in Sino
Australian ties following Albanze's election in twenty twenty two, which,
of course, they came after Beijing had targeted twenty billion
dollars of Australian exports and frozen ministerial dialogue. She said
the two countries had reached many common understandings with joint
(00:59):
effort from setbacks. Now she is China Supreme Leader. He
did not mention US President Donald Trump specifically and his
global trade war. He also did not mention the issue
around the US about the port of Darwin where Australia
is trying to remove the Chinese owner of that. He
did Jailbanesi to ensure global turbulence doesn't undermine the repair
(01:22):
work done to bilateral ties. Mister Aberanesi echoed She's sentiment
about the importance of finding points of unity in the relationship. Notably,
China State media reported the PM six day visit, highlighting
the length of his stay in the size of the
accompanying business delegation as proof of Australia's commitment to bilateral relations.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Sewan miss Dalbanez. He also met with Chinese Premier League
Kiang last night for the annual leaders meeting and follow
that with a dinner between the two and business leaders
from both countries.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
So Lee's formerly head of the government, while Shi Jingping
is head of State or basically the equivalent with Australia
of Australia's government general, but he has all the power
unlike our governor General. A few of the more thorny
issues were likely to be mentioned last night. That Porta
Darwin could have been mentioned last night also the recent
circumnavigation of the Australian mainland and unannounced live firing exercises
(02:16):
in the Tasman Sea. They were also expected to get
a run.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Story number two. The local shere market set a closing
record yesterday, and it was a particularly good day for
technology stocks.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The S and PI six two hundred finished up zero
point seven percent to eighty six hundred and thirty points,
eclipsing the previous closing high. Though it's still shy, it's
all time high. The strong day followed a rise on
Wall Street after Donald Trump indicated he's open to negotiate
on tariffs, not standing in post. Thirty percent rates on
Nextico and EU over the weekend thirty five percent on Canada.
(02:46):
There were big jumps in some of the tech stocks
on the back of Wall Street increases. Life three sixty
was up eight percent, Wi Seat Global zero, Tech one,
Next DC all did well over the past week or so,
though the big miners in Telstra along with the energy
stocks have driven the share market higher. Real estate and
consumer staples companies have suffered a little bit place like
(03:08):
Willis and Coals.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Sean story number three. The Reserve Bank wants to overhaul
the payment system, banning surch charges on credit and debit cards,
saving consumers more than one billion dollars a year.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Under a planned overhaul, the Reserve Bank would ban surch
charges and all debit and credit transactions under the f POSS,
master Card and Visa networks. They're about seventeen million credit
and charge cards out there, forty eight point five million
debit cards. Reserve Bank also wants banks to publish previously
hidden fees levied on retailers, and it calls for interchange
fees paid between a merchant and a shopper's bank to
(03:40):
be lowered, saving businesses one point two million dollars annually.
Central Bank says it estimates that nine percent of Australian
businesses will be better off under the changes. Governor Michelle
Willock said the times come to address some of these
high costs and inefficiencies in the system. The release of
the plan kicks off a six week consulting period. The
recommendation interest goes further than what the Albanezy government wanted.
(04:03):
It only wanted been on search, housing of debit transactions.
This actually adds credit card to.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Sean Stein Number four. Australian consumers are still buying online
in high numbers, but they are changing the way they shop,
with nearly three quarters of people cutting back on non
essential items on the back of the high cost of living.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
The report from IAB and pure profile Or released today
shows that it is only it isn't just cost that matters.
Convenience matters, rewards, sustainability, transparency across a range of products.
Online shoppers use an average of four point eight touch
points like online search and maybe a retailer site personal
connections ratings that type of stuff. Search remains the top
discovery tool overall, particularly for the over fifties. Social media
(04:44):
and influencers are key to millennial and Gen Z online shoppers.
Free shipping thresholds, easy in free returns, fast shipping. They
rank as very important retailer offerings. Almost half of online
shoppers say real time product availability important is also very
important to them, and mostly online shoppers find free to
(05:05):
join loyalty and rewards programs valuable.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Story Number five. Animals react to sounds being made by
plants near Research suggests opening up the possibility that an
invisible ecosystem might exist between.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Them, cracking story. In the first ever such evidence, a
team at Tel Aviv University found that female moths avoided
laying their eggs on tomato plants if the plants made
noises they associated with distress. According to a report in
the BBC Now, this team is the first to show
two years ago that plants scream when they're distressed or unhealthy.
The sounds are outside the range of human hearing, but
(05:38):
can be perceived by many insects, bats, in some mammals.
The academics concede it is speculation at this stage, but
it's possible that all sorts of animals make decisions based
on the sounds they hear from plants, such as whether
to pollinate or hide inside or eat the plant. Another
area of investigation is whether the plants can pass information
to each other through sound and act in response, such
as conserving their water and draft condition. It's fascinating, Adam.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
It certainly is, Sean. And that's it the top five
business stories you need to know in just five minutes.
Thank you very much, Sean.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Thanks Adam.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
It's Wednesday, the sixteenth of July twenty twenty five. Remember
to hit follow on the podcast, and if five minutes
is not enough, then find our longer podcast called Fear
and Greed on your favorite podcast platform. I'm Adam Lang
and that was the past five by Fear and Greed.
Have a great day.
It's Wednesday, the sixteenth of July twenty twenty five. Welcome
to the Fast five by Fear and Greed, where we
give you the top five business stories you need to
know in just five minutes. I'm Adam Lang and good morning,
Sean Almer.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good morning, Adam.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Sean's story number one. Prime Minister Anthony Albanesi met with
Chinese President Jijingping yesterday in the Great Hall of the
People near Tianamin Square in Beijing. It was a cordial affair,
with Ji congratulating Alberanesi on his re election, saying that
it is important that international turbulence doesn't derail improvements in
the China Australia relationship.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
She talked about the need to treat people equally in
for the two countries to seek common ground and pursue
mutually beneficial cooperation. He alluded to the reproachment in Sino
Australian ties following Albanze's election in twenty twenty two, which,
of course, they came after Beijing had targeted twenty billion
dollars of Australian exports and frozen ministerial dialogue. She said
the two countries had reached many common understandings with joint
(00:59):
effort from setbacks. Now she is China Supreme Leader. He
did not mention US President Donald Trump specifically and his
global trade war. He also did not mention the issue
around the US about the port of Darwin where Australia
is trying to remove the Chinese owner of that. He
did Jailbanesi to ensure global turbulence doesn't undermine the repair
(01:22):
work done to bilateral ties. Mister Aberanesi echoed She's sentiment
about the importance of finding points of unity in the relationship. Notably,
China State media reported the PM six day visit, highlighting
the length of his stay in the size of the
accompanying business delegation as proof of Australia's commitment to bilateral relations.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Sewan miss Dalbanez. He also met with Chinese Premier League
Kiang last night for the annual leaders meeting and follow
that with a dinner between the two and business leaders
from both countries.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
So Lee's formerly head of the government, while Shi Jingping
is head of State or basically the equivalent with Australia
of Australia's government general, but he has all the power
unlike our governor General. A few of the more thorny
issues were likely to be mentioned last night. That Porta
Darwin could have been mentioned last night also the recent
circumnavigation of the Australian mainland and unannounced live firing exercises
(02:16):
in the Tasman Sea. They were also expected to get
a run.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Story number two. The local shere market set a closing
record yesterday, and it was a particularly good day for
technology stocks.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
The S and PI six two hundred finished up zero
point seven percent to eighty six hundred and thirty points,
eclipsing the previous closing high. Though it's still shy, it's
all time high. The strong day followed a rise on
Wall Street after Donald Trump indicated he's open to negotiate
on tariffs, not standing in post. Thirty percent rates on
Nextico and EU over the weekend thirty five percent on Canada.
(02:46):
There were big jumps in some of the tech stocks
on the back of Wall Street increases. Life three sixty
was up eight percent, Wi Seat Global zero, Tech one,
Next DC all did well over the past week or so,
though the big miners in Telstra along with the energy
stocks have driven the share market higher. Real estate and
consumer staples companies have suffered a little bit place like
(03:08):
Willis and Coals.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Sean story number three. The Reserve Bank wants to overhaul
the payment system, banning surch charges on credit and debit cards,
saving consumers more than one billion dollars a year.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Under a planned overhaul, the Reserve Bank would ban surch
charges and all debit and credit transactions under the f POSS,
master Card and Visa networks. They're about seventeen million credit
and charge cards out there, forty eight point five million
debit cards. Reserve Bank also wants banks to publish previously
hidden fees levied on retailers, and it calls for interchange
fees paid between a merchant and a shopper's bank to
(03:40):
be lowered, saving businesses one point two million dollars annually.
Central Bank says it estimates that nine percent of Australian
businesses will be better off under the changes. Governor Michelle
Willock said the times come to address some of these
high costs and inefficiencies in the system. The release of
the plan kicks off a six week consulting period. The
recommendation interest goes further than what the Albanezy government wanted.
(04:03):
It only wanted been on search, housing of debit transactions.
This actually adds credit card to.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Sean Stein Number four. Australian consumers are still buying online
in high numbers, but they are changing the way they shop,
with nearly three quarters of people cutting back on non
essential items on the back of the high cost of living.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
The report from IAB and pure profile Or released today
shows that it is only it isn't just cost that matters.
Convenience matters, rewards, sustainability, transparency across a range of products.
Online shoppers use an average of four point eight touch
points like online search and maybe a retailer site personal
connections ratings that type of stuff. Search remains the top
discovery tool overall, particularly for the over fifties. Social media
(04:44):
and influencers are key to millennial and Gen Z online shoppers.
Free shipping thresholds, easy in free returns, fast shipping. They
rank as very important retailer offerings. Almost half of online
shoppers say real time product availability important is also very
important to them, and mostly online shoppers find free to
(05:05):
join loyalty and rewards programs valuable.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Story Number five. Animals react to sounds being made by
plants near Research suggests opening up the possibility that an
invisible ecosystem might exist between.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Them, cracking story. In the first ever such evidence, a
team at Tel Aviv University found that female moths avoided
laying their eggs on tomato plants if the plants made
noises they associated with distress. According to a report in
the BBC Now, this team is the first to show
two years ago that plants scream when they're distressed or unhealthy.
The sounds are outside the range of human hearing, but
(05:38):
can be perceived by many insects, bats, in some mammals.
The academics concede it is speculation at this stage, but
it's possible that all sorts of animals make decisions based
on the sounds they hear from plants, such as whether
to pollinate or hide inside or eat the plant. Another
area of investigation is whether the plants can pass information
to each other through sound and act in response, such
as conserving their water and draft condition. It's fascinating, Adam.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
It certainly is, Sean. And that's it the top five
business stories you need to know in just five minutes.
Thank you very much, Sean.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Thanks Adam.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
It's Wednesday, the sixteenth of July twenty twenty five. Remember
to hit follow on the podcast, and if five minutes
is not enough, then find our longer podcast called Fear
and Greed on your favorite podcast platform. I'm Adam Lang
and that was the past five by Fear and Greed.
Have a great day.
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