Reset with Lynlee

Alternative investments have lagged behind public markets last year. This marks a complete reversal from 2022. But are they making a comeback this year? What’s the outlook for alternative investments? What are the key asset classes in the alternative investment universe? On Money in the Market, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alex Catterick, Senior Managing Director, Head of Alternative Investment Solutions, Manulife IM, to find out more about where the opportunities lie in the alternative asset space. 

On What’s Trending, Jaguar, a Taiwan’s first native dog, is joining the country’s police force. Also, an ostrich died after swallowing a staff’s keys. And lastly, San Francisco is preparing for the arrival of Pandas.

Unclear prospects for demand in China have already weighed on luxury stocks since the post COVID restrictions. And it’s promoted a reassessment of such luxury brands’ business strategies. But can luxury stocks rebound from its rout? On Money in the Market, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Tao Zhang, China Markets Editor, Bloomberg to find out how investors can navigate the luxury market.  Highlights: 1. What factors contributed to the significant increase in return rates for upscale labels on Tmall during the shopping festival? What does this tell us about China’s economy and consumer sentiment? - 1:22 2. Does the increase in product returns highlight the imperative for luxury brands to redefine their strategies for the Chinese market?Should they venture out to other markets around the world? - 3:24 3. Does this have a big impact on luxury stocks itself? How have luxury stocks fared so far?- 5:13 4. Do analysts believe that sentiment towards luxury brands will return, or are they in a new normal right now? - 9:57 5. Are there any other possibilities of luxury stocks rebounding or surging anytime soon?- 11:17

On What’s Trending, we’ll be talking about Taylor Swift’s newest album - The Tortured Poets Department - and what kind of theories has been circulating online. Also, Queen’s University introduced a new Taylor Swift course called “Law (Taylor’s Version).”

US Fed officials have questioned the need for a cut anytime soon, leaving traders mulling the outlook for US interest rates. Expectations of rate cuts have fallen from six in the beginning of the year to now - just two, while some even expect a possible hike. On Money in the Market, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gautam Chadda, Head of Investment and Portfolio Advisory (Singapore) at RBC Wealth Management Asia, to find out more of the trajectory of rate cuts and how investors can navigate this landscape. 

On The Afternoon Update, Hongbin Jeong is joined by Carmen Lee, Head of OCBC Investment Research, for a market wrap of the week. They discuss how the STI has performed in the past week, how the latest heightened tension in the Middle East is affecting local markets, outlook of the earnings season and how the new Prime Minister in May may affect markets.

Saxo has recently released a quarterly report titled “2024: The Wasted Year”. But why is 2024 a wasted year? What lies ahead for the upcoming quarter, and how can investors navigate the uncertainties surrounding rate cuts, politics and geopolitical issues? On Money in the Market, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Charu Chanana, Head of FX Strategy and Global Market Strategist at Saxo, to find out more. 

On What’s Trending, we talk about the escape of 100 huskies from a pet cafe in China. And the second generation of The Beatles released a new song.

The Sustainable City is the first operational Net Zero Energy city in Dubai, modelled to become an international showcase for high quality sustainable living. It’s been 9 years since the first set of keys were handed over to tenants in this community with solar panel clad homes and shaded vehicle free pedestrian streets. Now, it’s been one year since I moved to Dubai and I can’t help but wonder why there aren’t more of such developments across the globe. To find out more about the project, I caught up with Marwa Al Nahlawi, General Manager of Diamond Developers.

Nearly 100 millimetres of rain fell over the course of just 12 hours yesterday in Dubai. Rushing water inundated homes and businesses, roads have turned into rivers, and planes into boats. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Rachel Kelly, who is currently residing in Dubai, to give us a scoop on what the situation is like now.