Markets, Money & Trump

Alan Kohler and James Thomson co-host "The Money Cafe," a virtual edition this week, discussing recent financial news and answering listener questions. Thomson shares insights from the Banking Summit, particularly John Mott's concerns about banks favoring wealthy investors over poorer households and the implications for productivity. They analyze NAB's stock decline and the WiseTech governance issues, including Richard White's increased power despite scandals. The conversation shifts to the Fed's decision to hold rates, Jerome Powell's use of the word "transitory," and the potential for stagflation. They also touch on Germany's rearmament and Victor Schvetz's comparison to the 1930s, discussing the potential impact of Trump's policies on the US economy and global markets. Listeners' questions cover topics such as the current market correction, decoupling the Australian economy from the US, universal basic income, wage growth, OPEC's control of oil prices, petroleum reserves, and the pros and cons of investing in lesser-known companies.