This is the Fear and Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.

1. ASX closes higher

2. Calls to dump stamp duty

3. Google hit with massive fine

4. Indonesia drops aid to Palestine

5. World leaders arrive in US

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Monday 18 August 2025

Two new polls show support for Labor and the Prime Minister is soaring, just in time for the government’s reform round table.

And more, including:

• Qantas faces a reckoning, with a judge poised to hand down a record fine.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet with Donald Trump, after Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin ends without a ceasefire.
• Auction clearance rates jump after the RBA cuts rates
• Why Paris has seen a surge in luxury handbag heists.

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And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, financial red flags in relationships. Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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How do we fix the productivity crisis?

Today Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas to talk about the government's productivity and economic reform roundtable, which begins tomorrow. Last week RBA governor Michele Bullock called out productivity as a key challenge for the economy. So why is productivity so important, what does it look like, how do we measure it, and how do we fix the productivity crisis?

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!

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.