Afternoon Report | Bond sell-off hits markets; Swans suspend players
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Why did the global bond sell‑off cause the SPAS X200 to drop?
Welcome to the Fear and Greed Business News Afternoon Report for Wednesday, the 19th of August, 2026. I'm Michael Thompson, and every afternoon we've got the five stories that happened today that you need to know about. Let's jump straight into story number one: the SPAS X200 fell 0.2% today. Down to 9,054 points, extending its losing streak now to six sessions as a global bond sell-off hit markets. Tech stocks locally were the hardest hit today. Wise Tech Global in particular plunged more than 9%, but that also came after the ACCC executed a search warrant at the company. While data center operator Next DC fell more than 5%, the banks were all weaker, with Commonwealth Bank down more than 1%. There were a few gains, though, among healthcare and energy stocks.
Which Australian tech and banking stocks were hardest hit by the bond sell‑off?
CSL added another 5.5% after yesterday's 17% surge. Santos gained 2.5%, and Woodside rose more than 1% as oil climbed towards $92 US dollars a barrel. Elsewhere, Stockland surged 12% on its full year results. Superloop gained nearly $7%. While at the other end of the market, some big falls for online retailer Temple and Webster, and Hansen Technologies as well. More on both of those shortly. Story number two: the Sydney Swans have suspended five players for the rest of the AFL season for breaching the club's behavioral standards in a move that club chair Andrew Prittham says has effectively torpedoed the club. Club's premiership campaign, the sanctions follow a late-night drinking session and the decision to bring women back to the team hotel in Melbourne.
Pritham says the club is, quote, deeply ashamed by the players' actions and apologized to the community, supporters, and sponsors.
What led the Sydney Swans to suspend five players for the rest of the season?
Now, the sanctions from the club are separate from a Victoria police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the hotel. No player has been arrested, and the club says that its penalties make no finding in relation to the allegation currently being investigated by police. Story number three, I mentioned Santos before, and the company has posted a 19% fall in June half-year profit. Even though sales were higher, as were oil and gas prices. The result was below market expectations, though the energy was a very important thing. Giant share price closed up 3% today. Santos was the biggest company reporting in earnings season today. Chief Executive Kevin Gallagher said a final investment decision was anticipated for the next major growth project for the company in Papua New Guinea in the December quarter this year.
The Barossa Gas Project in the Timor Sea and the Pika oil project in Alaska are expected.
Why did Santos report a 19% decline in half‑year profit despite higher sales?
Expected to commence in the current half. The Adelaide-based company, you might remember, was the recipient of a failed $35.4 billion takeover bid led by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company last year. Story number four: a lot of other companies reporting today. Whitehaven Coal's full-year net profit fell to $385 million. It's down from $649 million a year ago, with the miner announcing. A fully franked final dividend of 6 cents a share. The coal miner plans to spend up to $47 million over the next six months buying back its own shares. Its share price finished almost 3% lower. I mentioned Temple and Webster, the homewares and furniture retailer.
How are Whitehaven Coal, Temple & Webster and Hansen Technologies performing after earnings?
Its annual profit fell 62% to $4 million in the year to June, despite delivering record revenue after heavy Investment in price and promotions squeezed margins. The company said that revenue in July and August had fallen further and its share price tumbled 18% today. And Hansen Technologies let's shares plunged more than 20% today after the company announced that long-serving chief executive Andrew Hansen has stepped aside from the top job after more than three decades. And finally, story number five, Meta is facing a pivotal trial in California over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed in ways that harmed children and contributed to the youth mental health crisis. Now, a little bit of backstory to this one: a total of 29 U.S.
states sued Meta back in 2023. Four of those states, California, California,
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why did the global bond sell‑off cause the SPAS X200 to drop?
0:06–0:53
2
Which Australian tech and banking stocks were hardest hit by the bond sell‑off?
0:53–1:54
3
What led the Sydney Swans to suspend five players for the rest of the season?
1:54–2:52
4
Why did Santos report a 19% decline in half‑year profit despite higher sales?
2:52–3:33
5
How are Whitehaven Coal, Temple & Webster and Hansen Technologies performing after earnings?
3:33–4:40
6
What are the key allegations and potential penalties in Meta’s California trial?
4:40–5:18
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from FEAR & GREED | Business News
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