Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

As tensions flare in the Middle East, global oil markets are on edge. Here in Singapore, major players like Shell, Caltex, Esso and Sinopec have raised 95-octane prices to around $2.92 a litre. Behind the spike? Growing fears that supplies could be disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. But this isn’t just a story for motorists. Singapore depends heavily on imported energy, especially natural gas and LNG, to keep the lights on and businesses running. So could higher oil prices feed into broader inflation pressures? And for drivers, should we brace for even more pain at the pump in the days ahead? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Song Seng Wun, economic advisor at the SDAX investment platform, to find out more. 

Markets bled red as the Straits Times Index (STI) slid to 4,812, with banks and blue chips, from DBS and UOB to Singtel and SIA, leading the losses. Over $3.6 billion in value changed hands, but confidence was harder to find. On Market View, Sean Cheong speaks with Dan Chang of Philip Securities to break down what’s really driving the sell-off, and whether Singapore is more vulnerable than investors think if global tensions escalate further. 

AI is everywhere, from trillion-dollar tech giants ramping up spending to Asian markets stepping up their role in the global supply chain. But with valuations stretched and volatility creeping back in, is it still about chasing the AI trade, or is it time to get more disciplined? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jason Kuan (CFA), Director, Investment Research and Advisory, Chief Investment Office, CIMB Singapore, to break down why quality large-cap tech still matters, where Asia fits into the next phase of growth, and how the “3Ds,” Discipline, Diversification and Derisking, could help investors build more resilient portfolios.

Students in Singapore are rating their teachers based on whether they cause “high cortisol” or “low cortisol”, complete with photos, stress meters, and viral TikTok edits. Harmless school humour or public shaming that’s gone too far? At the same time, a shocking case out of South Korea is raising uncomfortable questions about beauty, bias, and social media obsession. A young woman arrested in a suspected drug-laced killing case saw her online following explode, with strangers praising her looks despite the serious allegations. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh discuss whether we are witnessing something deeper about how Gen Z talks about stress… and how society reacts to attractiveness, even in extreme situations.

Sanctions. Forfeits. Points docked. It’s been a bruising week for Hougang United following the ruling by the Football Association of Singapore over the fielding of an ineligible player. In an EXCLUSIVE Sports Minutes sit-down, club captain Ryaan Sanizal tackles the tough questions head-on — speaking openly about accountability, resilience, and guiding a young squad through one of the most turbulent weeks in recent club history. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Air travel across the Middle East has been thrown into turmoil as escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran lead to widespread airspace restrictions, flight cancellations, and rerouting. Thousands of passengers are being affected, including Singaporeans caught in the region, facing delays, uncertainty, and difficult decisions about when they can return home. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong hears from Annabelle Siena Lim, a Singaporean entrepreneur currently in Dubai, about her experience navigating sudden flight disruptions and the challenges of rebooking amid rapidly changing schedules. We also speak with William Huang, Vice President at Super Travel Groups and Outbound Committee Member at NATAS, on how Singapore travel agencies are supporting anxious customers and responding in real time to the crisis. Finally, independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie from Sobie Aviation breaks down the broader impact on global aviation, including how Middle East airspace closures are affecting long-haul routes between Asia and Europe, potential fare increases, and how long the disruptions could last.

2025 tested investors with geopolitical uncertainty, shifting interest rate expectations, elections across major economies, and uneven global growth. Yet despite the volatility, Asian assets demonstrated surprising resilience, with fixed income delivering strong gains and equities across parts of Asia staging a constructive recovery. So what does this mean for 2026 and beyond? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Hock Fai Chan, Head of Equities, Singapore, Manulife Investment Management, to unpack the outlook for Asian equities, the key themes shaping portfolio positioning, and whether the region is at the start of a sustained multi-year opportunity.

Would you call your spouse your “teammate” instead of “baby”? And would you believe that your old laptop might be a better investment than gold? On today’s episode of What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into two unexpected trends shaking up the internet: married couples in China ditching lovey-dovey pet names in favour of practical titles like “teammate” or “roommate,” sparking debate over whether modern relationships are becoming more like partnerships than romance. And the surprising tech gold rush is happening at Sim Lim Square, where used laptops are being stripped for valuable RAM and SSD parts amid an AI-driven chip shortage that’s sending prices soaring.

Singapore shares rose today to buck regional losses as the Middle East conflict remains on top of investors’ minds. The Straits Times Index was up 0.86% at 4,932.73 points at 2.27pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.81B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Olam Group, after the agri-business company announced yesterday that its food, feed and fibre operating business, Olam Agri, secured a seven-year US$100 million financing facility, which will initially be guaranteed by the group.  Elsewhere, from how a flurry of stock market listings by Chinese artificial intelligence companies opened up a gap in analyst coverage, to how US and Chinese trade negotiators are reportedly slated to meet in mid-March, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kelvin Wong, Senior Analyst, OANDA.

Iran’s confrontation with Israel and the United States has escalated into one of the most dangerous crises the Middle East has seen in decades. A joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign aimed at crippling Tehran’s leadership has triggered retaliatory strikes across the region from missile barrages on Israeli cities to attacks on Gulf states. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Leon Goldsmith, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics at the University of Otago, to examine how this conflict reached this point, what the death of Iran’s supreme leader means for Tehran’s next moves, and whether diplomacy is still possible.