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Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian
Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian
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Money Matters is your guide to navigating the day's most important topics, from politics and current affairs to wealth management and trending issues. Every evening, the team delivers insightful discussions on business news, market movements, and the latest in alternative assets. Whether navigating the political landscape, understanding the economy, or uncovering emerging investment opportunities, Money Matters keeps you informed and ahead of the curve. Tune in daily to Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian from 4 pm to 7 pm on MONEY FM 89.3.
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Elon Musk has just shattered another record, not for rockets or robots, but for pay. Tesla shareholders have approved a jaw-dropping compensation deal worth nearly US$1 trillion, the largest in corporate history. It could make Musk the world’s first trillionaire, and raise big questions about power, profit, and the future of executive pay. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr. Holly Yang, Associate Professor of Accounting; Co-Director (Academic Research), School of Accountancy Research (SOAR); Lee Kong Chian Fellow, Singapore Management University, to unpack all of this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Picture a market research firm capable of scanning over 660 billion websites and online channels in less than a second. This allows it to monitor real-time trends, consumer sentiment, and competitor activity across 180 languages. Why does this matter? Because Parrot Social, a Singapore-based AI leader, is transforming how companies understand their markets using cutting-edge AI insights. Their platform provides actionable data that fuels strategic business growth for major corporations. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Hamidah Aidillah, Founder of Parrot Social, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gold’s shine isn’t fading just yet. After a record-breaking rally and a brief pullback, analysts are still betting on more upside ahead.But with shifting global dynamics and weaker links to the U.S. dollar and interest rates, has gold’s role as a store of value changed for good? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sim Moh Siong, Currency Strategist, Bank of Singapore, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singapore shares dipped today as Asian markets traded lower. The Straits Times Index was down 0.11% at 4,480.03 points at 1.42pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.21B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have OCBC. The lender had reported a flat third-quarter net profit of S$1.98 billion today, beating a S$1.79 billion consensus forecast in a Bloomberg survey of five analysts. Elsewhere from how shares of Singtel surged on the back of the sale of shares in Bharti Airtel, to how China’s exports unexpectedly slumped in October – more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – what comments from Federal Reserve officials on inflation mean for markets. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the story that captured hearts everywhere - a mother and daughter on opposite sides of the same football match. On Sports Minutes, Siti Nurwati and her daughter Hannah Tasha open up about the day that changed everything, how football deepened their bond, and what they hope for women’s football in Singapore.READ MORE:https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/special-mom-ent-for-mother-daughter-pair-in-womens-national-league-matchGot a story to tell? Get in touch!raushan@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From deepfake abuse to harassment and impersonation, victims of online harm have long faced a broken system. Now, victims can seek damages against platforms, administrators, and communicators under a law passed in Parliament on November 5. The legislation also paves the way for a one-stop government agency, set to be established by June 2026, which can direct platforms to remove harmful content. But will it really change how we behave online? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Rakesh Kirpalani, Director of Dispute Resolution & Information Technology and Chief Technology Officer at Drew & Napier, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Offshore wind is no longer just a breeze on the horizon, it’s becoming a financial storm. With the sector set to add nearly 19 gigawatts of new capacity by 2025 and $80 billion in investments pouring in, investors are asking: what’s fueling this surge, how can you get a piece of the action, and could offshore wind soon become a mainstream investment opportunity? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Umang Mehrotra, Senior Analyst, Offshore wind research, Rystad Energy, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Roblox and education rarely share the same sentence until Ottodot came along. Founded in Singapore, Ottodot bridges gameplay and pedagogy by turning math and science lessons into immersive learning adventures inside Roblox. Its platform is designed around the Singapore MOE syllabus and led by trained educators, creating a safe, engaging environment where kids learn through inquiry, exploration, and collaboration. With over 300% year-on-year growth and backing from top investors, Ottodot is pioneering a new frontier where gaming and learning go hand in hand. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Le Yi Khor, Co-founder & CEO, Ottodot, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singapore shares moved higher today, tracking gains seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 1.4% at 4,478.76 points at 2.02pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.75B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have DBS. The Singapore lender posted today a net profit for the third quarter ended Sep 30, 2025, that declined 2 per cent to S$2.95 billion, compared with S$3.03 billion in the same year-ago period. Elsewhere, from what a jump in US private payrolls and scepticism over the legality of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs mean for investors, to how shares of Chinese self-driving startups Pony.AI and WeRide tumbled on their Hong Kong debuts, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fashion is an art, but it is also big business. And our guest for today H&M Group has proven that the two can coexist at scale. Since opening its first store nearly eight decades ago in 1947, the Swedish fashion giant has evolved to a network of over 4,000 stores across 79 markets, with online sales available in 60 markets. The company prides itself on a simple promise: making great and sustainable designs available to everyone. Fast forward to 2025, and H&M is seeing strong momentum. In September, the firm reported a bigger than expected rise in third-quarter profit. Operating profit from June to August came in at 4.91 billion Swedish crowns (or about US$523 million). That’s up from the 3.51 billion seen a year ago, and well above the 3.68 billion crowns forecasted by analysts in an LSEG poll. The numbers come as CEO Daniel Erver embarked on an overhaul of the brand to improve profitability through trendier collections, tighter cost controls and a refreshed marketing strategy. But even as H&M celebrates its early success, the broader business environment is shifting. US tariffs are weighing on imports to and consumption within the US – the retailer’s second largest market after Germany. So how far would that make Asia a bright spot for growth for H&M, and how does H&M intend to compete with other big name players such as Inditex’s Zara, Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo and even e-commerce first players like Shein and Temu? And perhaps more importantly – which Asian markets hold the greatest promise for the next chapter of H&M’s growth given China’s uneven economic recovery? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Saed El-Achkar, President H&M East Asia & Greater China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From phishing texts to fake job offers, scams have quietly drained billions from Singapore over the years. Now, the response is anything but quiet. A sweeping new law introduces caning for scammers and money mules, a dramatic escalation in the fight against digital crime. But as Parliament turns up the heat, questions emerge: will harsher punishment truly deter scams or does this mark a new chapter in Singapore’s justice system? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mark Yeo, Director, Fortress Law Corporation, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Asia REITs surged in September, led by Singapore and Australia, fueled by strong property fundamentals, lower interest costs, and attractive yields. The Manulife Asia Pacific REIT Fund has seen a ~20% year-to-date gain, with retail and diversified REITs at the forefront. What’s driving this rally, which sectors are leading, and what lies ahead for investors in the region? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Derrick Heng, Director, Portfolio Manager, Equities, at Manulife Investment Management, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sqkii is a gamification marketing company that connects brands with gamers to drive exceptional ROI for brands while delivering engaging rewards to gamers. Born and raised in Singapore, Sqkii specialises in creating viral, game-based campaigns that solve real-world challenges from increasing sales and app downloads to encouraging healthy habits and active lifestyles. Known for bold and playful activations like #HuntTheMouse, Sqkii combines creativity, strategy, and a deep understanding of gamer culture to craft campaigns that are not only effective but genuinely fun. By partnering with brands, Sqkii transforms marketing into an engaging experience that captivates audiences, drives participation, and creates lasting impact. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kenny Choy, CEO & Co-founder, Sqkii, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singapore shares dipped today to track declines seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was down 0.33% at 4,408.27 points at 1.49pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.33B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have SIA Engineering, after the company posted a 13.5 per cent improvement in net profit to S$40.4 million for the second quarter ended September. Elsewhere, from more on the major sell-off seen in Asia today, to how China said it would extend the suspension of an additional 24 per cent tariff on US goods for one year, keeping a 10 per cent blanket tariff in place, more international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kelvin Wong, Senior Analyst, OANDA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A new name, a bold dream - and just 12 months to make it happen. American outift Cadillac are going full throttle toward their 2026 Formula 1 debut. From star signings to behind-the-scenes with Keanu Reeves, Sports Minutes sits down with CEO Dan Towriss to learn about how this team plans to shake up the grid, one lap at a time. READ MORE:https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/f1s-newbies-cadillac-want-to-hit-the-ground-running-in-2026 Got a story to tell? Get in touch!raushan@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The courtroom drama isn’t over for Pritam Singh. The Workers’ Party chief is back in court, appealing his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee. His defence says crucial evidence was ignored. But how did the appeal play out today, and what could this mean for Singapore’s political landscape? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst, Solaris Strategies Singapore, for a breakdown of what went down in court. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Temasek hit a record S$434 billion in portfolio value, up more than 11% in a single year, earlier this year. But what’s behindTemasek’s success and what can everyday investors learn from it? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Steve Alain Lawrence, CIO of Balfour Capital Group, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bunjang is a South Korean recommerce platform, connecting buyers and sellers to a wide range of secondhand and collectible items. From rare K-pop merchandise and limited-edition fashion to heritage-inspired lifestyle products, Bunjang makes it easy for fans and collectors around the world to discover, buy, and sell authentic Korean goods. With the launch of Global Bunjang, the platform is expanding internationally, bringing curated Korean culture to markets like Singapore and helping global users access hard-to-find treasures in a trusted, secure, and community-driven environment. The platform features a proprietary authenticity verification system, Corelytics, which ensures that collectibles and luxury items are genuine, while curated discovery tools help users find rare or trending items suited to their interests. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dennis Yeum, Corporate Communication Manager, Bunjang, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singapore shares dipped today, tracking declines in most Asian markets. The Straits Times Index was down 0.2% at 4,435.25 points at 1.27pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$839.39M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have China Aviation Oil, after China’s largest oil refiner, Sinopec, is said to be in discussions to take over the nation’s dominant distributor of jet fuel. The tie-up talks between Sinopec and China National Aviation Fuel were initiated by Beijing. China National Aviation Fuel balances domestic supplies by importing or exporting cargoes through trading arms including China Aviation Oil, of which it owns 51 per cent. Elsewhere, from how Australia’s central bank held its key interest rate steady in a widely anticipated decision, to how South Korea will triple spending on artificial intelligence and make its biggest defence budget increase in six years, more international headlines remain in focus. Plus – how ChatGPT-maker OpenAI signed a US$38 billion deal with Amazon’s AWS cloud computing arm. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Dan Chang, Investment Specialist and Trading Representative, PhillipCapital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Guaranteed admission for a fee? That’s the pitch some so-called study-abroad agents on Chinese social media are using to lure students into paying for fake promises. Now, Singapore’s top universities, NUS and NTU, are warning prospective applicants to beware of these fraudulent schemes that claim to secure fast-track entry into their postgraduate programmes. So what’s really going on behind these 'guaranteed' offers, and how are universities here fighting back? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Eugene Tan, Professor of law at Singapore Management University, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
























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