Afternoon Report | Miners climb; Qantas wins again
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to the Fear and Greed Business News Afternoon Report for Wednesday, the 22nd of July, 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 get cracking with story number one.
How did miners and commodities drive the ASX 200 gains today?
The local share market closed 0.3% higher today, led by a rebound in mining and energy stocks as copper and gold prices climbed. The S&P ASX 200 closed at 8,823 points. with miners among the strongest performers, one of only three sectors actually to gain ground today.
Which mining and energy stocks led the market rebound and why?
BHP and Rio Tinto both rose around 2.5%. South32 climbed more than 4%. The gold miners also rallied as the gold price bounced back above $4,100 an ounce. Newmont and Oribanda Mining were among the biggest gainers there. Energy stocks advanced after oil prices climbed above $92 a barrel. That is, of course, on the back of renewed tensions in the Middle East.
How did gold and oil price moves affect Australian miners and energy names?
Woodside, Santos, Karun Energy all finished higher. The banks were a bit mixed with Commonwealth Bank edging higher late in the session. It was healthcare and technology that weighed on the market most. CSL and Cochlear both falling sharply. Xero and Technology One also losing ground today. Onto story number two now, and the latest Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Economics release for June.
Why was Qantas named the most punctual airline and how did other carriers compare?
It's a mouthful, isn't it? Showed that Qantas and QantasLink arrived on time 84.8% of the time, while Virgin and its regional arm They were next with 83.5% on time arrivals. Virgin's cancellations were the lowest at just 0.8%, so below 1% and well below the long-term average of 2.4%. Budget carrier Jetstar arrived on time just 75% of the time. Regional Express or Rex stood at 73%. Now, all this comes after Qantas was named the most punctual major airline in the world. in June, a significant recovery from three years ago when it was ranked 106th. Story number three, the federal government says a Perth-born doctor who became a senior Islamic state figure will face the full force of Australian law if he returns home.
Pediatrician Terry Karmlay, who was dubbed Dr. Jihad by the media, was believed to have died in Syria in 2017, but has now been identified as one of 13 Australians linked to Islamic State who are alive and being held in an Iraqi prison and hope to return to Australia.
What are the legal and security implications of the Perth-born doctor linked to Islamic State?
Now, Kamlai is wanted by the Australian Federal Police on terrorism charges, including joining and recruiting for a banned terrorist organization. The opposition is calling on the government to use every available legal mechanism to prevent him from re-entering Australia, while Housing Minister Claire O'Neill said she hoped he would, quote, rot in jail. Story number four, a bit of corporate news around today. Wesfarmers and its Chilean joint venture partner SQM will spend $1.4 billion expanding their Mount Holland lithium operation in Western Australia. The expansion will double spodumene concentrate production and add a new ore sorting facility. with Wesfarmers saying that the investment will reduce operating costs and improve long-term cash flow.
Linus Rare Earths fell 3.6% today after revealing its heavy Rare Earths expansion project in Malaysia will now cost $294 million. That's significantly higher than the previously forecast $180 million. And candle retailer Dusk
Which corporate updates and political moments closed out today’s headlines?
has tumbled 8.6% today after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched legal action against it, alleging that Dusk sold 25 products containing non-compliant batteries. And finally, story number five. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce says his dog has forgiven him after his now viral outburst during a live ABC interview earlier this week. For the last time, Joyce interrupted an appearance on the 7.30 report by shouting at his young staffy border colleague Cross Stella. He quickly apologized, continued the interview, but the moment attracted widespread attention online, as you would expect, as well as a fair amount of criticism. Joyce has dismissed the backlash, saying it highlighted what he called the divide between city and regional Australia.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:03–0:16
2
How did miners and commodities drive the ASX 200 gains today?
0:16–0:37
3
Which mining and energy stocks led the market rebound and why?
0:37–1:04
4
How did gold and oil price moves affect Australian miners and energy names?
1:04–1:31
5
Why was Qantas named the most punctual airline and how did other carriers compare?
1:31–2:45
6
What are the legal and security implications of the Perth-born doctor linked to Islamic State?
2:45–3:50
7
Which corporate updates and political moments closed out today’s headlines?
3:50–5:18
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from FEAR & GREED | Business News
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