The softer New Zealand dollar means more Australian tourists are flocking across the ditch for holidays and long weekends. Meanwhile, Kiwis are increasingly migrating to Australia to escape their country’s economic weakness. On this week’s Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke talks with Ainsley Thomson in Wellington about why New Zealand’s currency has weakened, the impact on its tourism industry and why Kiwis are leaving in droves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Macquarie’s reputation as Australia’s “millionaires factory” is under strain. The investment giant’s latest profit fell short of expectations, sending its shares sliding and investors questioning whether its golden era is fading. Commodities trading – once the powerhouse of the bank – is losing steam amid regulatory pressure and a calmer market, while leadership faces scrutiny over pay and performance. Bloomberg’s finance editor Adam Haigh joins Rebecca Jones to unpack what’s gone wrong, where the bright spots remain, and whether CEO Shemara Wikramanayake can steady the ship. Plus, how Macquarie stacks up against Australia’s big four banks in an increasingly competitive lending and investment landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, has seen her fortune grow even larger in the last few years, thanks to astute early investing in rare earths. In this episode, we look how the Rinehart-owned Hancock Prospecting Pty almost doubled its stake in Arafura Rare Earths Ltd. and the broader global landscape of the tussle for rare earths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Westpac shares have gained 21% this year, outperforming the broader S&P/ASX 200 Financials index. This week on the podcast, CEO Anthony Miller talks to host Rebecca Jones and finance editor Adam Haigh after delivering his first full-year earnings report. They discuss those results, Miller’s outlook for the Australian economy, AI and hybrid work arrangements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With just two Reserve Bank meetings left in the year, will Australia see another interest rate cut before Christmas? Chris Bourke speaks with Adam Bowe, head of portfolio management at Pimco Australia, about what the latest inflation data means for the RBA’s next move - and whether borrowers can expect any relief soon. They also unpack how bond markets are interpreting rate expectations, what makes this economic moment particularly tricky for the central bank, and why more retail investors are eyeing the bond market. Plus, Bowe shares how global forces, including the US Federal Reserve, could shape the outlook into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australia’s defense tech sector has a new star. DroneShield has seen its stock soar more than 500% this year, catapulting the Sydney-based company from a niche player to an ASX 200 member. Once built to fend off paparazzi drones, it’s now supplying counter-drone technology to militaries and governments around the world. In this episode, Rebecca Jones talks to Sydney Bureau Chief Ainslie Chandler and reporter Carmeli Argana about DroneShield’s journey from meme stock to military mainstay, whether the company’s explosive rally can last, and how its CEO’s remarkable backstory fits into this unique company’s rise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ANZ’s new CEO Nuno Matos is moving fast to remake Australia’s fourth-largest bank. In just five months, he’s announced thousands of job cuts, paused a share buyback, and pledged to refocus on core lending and business banking — part of an aggressive push to simplify operations and rebuild investor and regulator trust. Bloomberg finance editor Adam Haigh joins host Rebecca Jones to unpack what Matos’s overhaul means for ANZ’s strategy, shareholders, and staff. They discuss his plan to lift returns, repair relationships with regulators, and steer the bank through an increasingly competitive market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Few economies are as closely watched in this region right now as New Zealand’s as it navigates inflation pressures, productivity challenges and a shifting global environment.In this special bonus episode, Wellington Bureau Chief Matthew Brockett interviews New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis live on stage for the Bloomberg Address in Auckland on Oct. 10. Now in its fifth year, the annual event has become a cornerstone of New Zealand’s policy calendar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A big slice of Australia’s retirement savings is tied up in so-called private markets — assets that don’t trade on stock exchanges and are often hard to value or sell. This week, Rebecca Jones speaks with reporter Richard Henderson about what happens when those opaque investments go wrong, and what that reveals about the growing risks inside the A$4.3 trillion super system. As more super funds pour money into unlisted real estate, private equity and infrastructure, regulators are sounding the alarm about transparency and valuation. We unpack what the watchdog’s warnings mean for investors, why these deals can turn sour quickly, and how Australia’s biggest funds are managing the balance between risk and return in the race to grow members’ savings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australia’s housing market is running hot again. Home values are rising at their fastest pace in nearly two years, fueled by rate cuts and ahead of fresh government support for first-home buyers. But with the Reserve Bank keeping rates on hold this week, the big question is when the next cut might come — and what it means for affordability, supply, and renters. In the latest Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke speaks with economist James McIntyre about the forces driving prices higher, the outlook for rate cuts, and why the supply crunch is likely to keep pressure on both buyers and renters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australian retirees are wealthier than ever, thanks to decades of superannuation growth and soaring property values. But with that prosperity has come a disturbing rise in inheritance impatience – where children and relatives pressure older Australians to hand over their savings early. In this episode of the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke speaks with economy reporter Swati Pandey about the rise of financial elder abuse. They discuss how housing pressures, the cost of living and wealth divides are fueling this trend, as well as the toll it takes on victims and what’s being done to better protect retirees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Victoria wants to make working from home a legal right for two days a week – a move that could reshape how many Australians work. But is Jacinta Allan’s policy about protecting flexibility, or is it more about politics with an election looming? And can it even be done? Chris Bourke speaks with Trent Wiltshire from the Grattan Institute about whether legislating hybrid work makes sense, what it would mean for businesses and workers, and why the work-from-home debate reveals a growing divide in Australia’s workforce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Erin Patterson was this week sentenced to at least 33 years in prison for murdering three family members and attempting to kill a fourth, by serving a lunch laced with poisonous mushrooms – closing a chapter in the saga that’s become globally known as the Mushroom Murders. On this week’s Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Chris Bourke speaks with Ainsley Thomson about why the case drew so much international interest, spawning books, podcasts and TV series. They also explore what fuels our obsession with true crime, and whether the intense scrutiny may have influenced Patterson’s fate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you have a child, or have left the house in recent months, chances are you’re familiar with Pop Mart’s blind box sensation the Labubu. This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Rebecca Jones speaks to Ainsley Thomson in Wellington about why the toothy plush toys have developed a cult following and investors are diving in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Goldman Sachs is bolstering its private wealth business in Australia as it tries to win the business of individuals and families with more than A$100 million to invest. This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Rebecca Jones speaks to finance editor Adam Haigh about what this tells us about the local wealth management market, and how people with slightly less (i.e. most of us) can do to boost their coffers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australia’s richest are getting richer — with Gina Rinehart and Harry Triguboff climbing higher in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, while others like Atlassian’s founders take a hit. Together, the nation’s top ten fortunes are now worth $144 billion. So where’s the money being made and what does it say about the broader economy? This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Rebecca Jones speaks to wealth editor Andrew Heathcote about the winners and losers in Australia’s billionaire ranks, the sectors driving their gains, and what lessons we can take from how the ultra-wealthy think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australia has just lifted its final bans on beef from the US, more than two decades after they were first imposed. The government says it’s the natural end of a long evaluation process but others see it as a bid to win favor from the US and avoid the worst of Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff war.This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Rebecca Jones speaks to agriculture reporter Ben Westcott about what really sparked the end to the beef ban, what more American meat in Australia means for local producers, and the outlook for the sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised the market in July by holding interest rates steady - and only a few people saw it coming. One of those who did was Bloomberg Economics’ James McIntyre. Now, he thinks that Governor Michele Bullock and her board will finally deliver a cut at the August 12 meeting. This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke talks to James about what’s changed since the July decision, how far borrowing costs could fall this year - and why US President Donald Trump may play a role in what the RBA does next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since rockstar interviewer Mishal Husain joined Bloomberg earlier this year, she’s grilled the likes of Elon Musk and Keir Starmer. Now, she’s set her sights on Australia. This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Mishal sits down with Malcolm Turnbull, who as you might expect has a fair bit to say about his old mate US President Donald Trump. Mishal also asks our former Prime Minister his thoughts on US tariffs, China and the way forward for the AUKUS pact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bitcoin just hit a record above $123,000 and crypto is suddenly back in the headlines. A major new US law backing stablecoins has sent digital assets soaring, and it’s tied directly to Donald Trump’s renewed push to make crypto part of the political mainstream. While Bitcoin itself isn’t covered by the legislation, the broader mood shift has given the whole sector a boost - and Aussie investors are watching closely. This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Rebecca Jones speaks with cross-asset reporter Richard Henderson about what this new wave of momentum really means. From ETFs and super fund exposure to why stablecoins matter more than you might think, they break down how crypto is evolving, what’s driving the surge - and whether this marks a shift toward digital assets going truly mainstream.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.