Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Oil prices are reacting fast to renewed tensions in the Gulf, but the bigger question for investors is what happens if this isn’t just a short shock. Which emerging markets are most exposed, who could actually benefit, and how far could this ripple into global funding conditions? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ed Parker, Managing Director, Global Head of Research, Sovereigns & Supranationals, Fitch Ratings, for more.

Singapore’s central bank on April 14 tightened its monetary policy stance for the first time since 2022 to allow for a stronger currency in the face of soaring oil and natural gas prices from the Iran war. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said it has steepened the slope of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) policy band – signalling that it will allow the currency to appreciate and dampen the impact of rising import costs. What this policy change could mean for the cost of living in Singapore? Will it meaningfully ease price pressures for households? How might businesses be affected? And what does it signal about the economic outlook in the months ahead? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Tay Qi Hang, Asia Analyst, Economist Intelligence Unit, to find out more.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the strange new world of AI-generated “slopaganda”, where bright, toy-like animations are being used to spread political messaging about the Iran conflict, and racking up hundreds of millions of views in the process. It looks like entertainment. It feels like entertainment. But is it actually influence? Then, we switch gears to a completely different kind of viral trend: people paying thousands of dollars just to… read. From countryside escapes to luxury European retreats, reading is being rebranded as a premium wellness experience. So why are people willing to spend so much just to sit still and focus?

Singapore shares registered gains today as investors mull a move by the country’s central bank to tighten monetary policy settings for the first time since 2022. The Straits Times Index inched 0.51% higher to 5,009.80 points at 1.52pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.12B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Oiltek International, Koh Brothers Eco Engineering and Koh Brothers, after property player Koh Brothers rejected a new shareholders’ attempt to force the company to distribute its stake in Oiltek on the basis that it is not in the group’s best interest.  Elsewhere, from how US President Donald Trump signalled a willingness to resume talks and said Iran had reached out to his administration after weekend negotiations collapsed, to how Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL) is reportedly considering a share sale to raise as much as US$5 billion in Hong Kong, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, a quick look at Goldman Sachs’s results and how it sets the tone for the latest earnings season. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Willie Keng, Founder, Dividend Titan.

Late but great, that's the theme of Sports Minutes today as we discuss and dissect a flurry of stoppage time winners in the Singapore Premiere League weekend gone by. Plus, Kai Whitmore has been confirmed as a new signing for the Young Lions. One step closer to the National Team? Tune in as Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times weighs in! Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg  

Following the breakdown of rare high-level talks between Washington and Tehran, US President Donald Trump has unveiled a significant escalation: a naval operation aimed at restricting vessels linked to Iranian ports. This development comes despite a ceasefire reached on April 8 intended to temporarily halt weeks of fighting. In remarks shared on social media, Trump framed the operation as an effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, remove maritime threats, and guarantee uninterrupted global shipping, while also accusing Iran of leveraging its influence over the vital waterway. As naval forces prepare to intercept ships in contested waters, questions are mounting over the risks of escalation. Could a response from Tehran push the situation beyond containment? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Malminderjit Singh, Founder and Managing Director of Terra Corporate Affairs, to find out more.

Markets are being jolted after the US moved to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, sending Brent and WTI sharply higher following failed talks between Washington and Tehran. But here’s what’s really catching attention, beyond the headline rally, there are signs of a deeper strain, with a growing disconnect between what’s happening in the physical oil market and what’s being priced on financial screens. So the question now: are markets underestimating the scale of this disruption? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gerald Gan, Chief Investment Officer at Reed Capital Partners, to find out more.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh look at how Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival went from a 1990s protest-era experiment to becoming one of the world’s biggest cultural festivals. What started as a risky desert show eventually grew into a global stage for iconic performances and … skyrocketing prices?  Then we dive into “Bieberchella,” where Justin Bieber headlined a nostalgia-driven set that blends live performance with throwback videos, sparking debate online over whether it was genius or unconventional. And of course, Bieber’s most devoted superfan — a record-breaking listener who identified 33 Bieber songs in just 60 seconds.

Singapore shares slid today after no agreement was reached between the US and Iran in peace talks held over the weekend. The Straits Times Index was down 0.21% at 4,978.89 points at 2.45pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$855.70M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Katrina Group, after the Catalist-listed company on Friday said independent auditors from EY raised uncertainties in the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Elsewhere, from how the US would impose a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and what this would mean for investors, to how Singapore’s central bank is poised to tighten policy tomorrow as the Iran war drives up import costs and threatens to push inflation beyond current projections, more international and economic headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Today we turn our attention to look at renewable energy as companies around the world look to decarbonise and reduce their consumption of traditional fossil fuels.  Founded in 2008 with a mission to address the challenges of climate change, our guest for today is pure-play renewable fuel producer EcoCeres.  Backed by international investors Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital, the company transforms sustainable feedstocks into advanced biofuels and renewable products such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).  The firm says its solutions turn 100% waste-based biomass into renewable fuels, renewable chemicals and materials resulting in up to 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.  So far, EcoCeres said some of its customers include Cathay Pacific and HSBC, and that it holds 20% of the global SAF market in the years 2022 to 2023. EcoCeres is a company that we want to speak to given the rise in adoption of biofuels around the world to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  For one thing, the International Air Transport Association (or IATA) had estimated that Sustainable Aviation Fuel could contribute around 65% of the reduction of emissions needed by the aviation industry to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by the middle of this century (or 2050 that is). So what opportunities does this present for EcoCeres looking ahead? What are the barriers to producing enough biofuels for consumption, and which markets will be key to the growth of the biofuels industry?  Speaking of markets, EcoCeres opened Malaysia’s first commercial-scale sustainable aviation production facility in January 2026. But what were the reasons behind the move, and which are the other markets of interest to the firm?  Meanwhile, media reports out in December 2025 and January 2026 noted that EcoCeres was eyeing a potential Hong Kong IPO that could raise about US$1 billion.  But what was the rationale behind the move and how would the company use the proceeds, if it turns out to be true?  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Matti Lievonen, CEO, EcoCeres.