Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore stocks closed slightly lower today, with the STI slipping 0.06% to 3,927 points despite early gains. Olam announced a US$1.8 billion deal to sell a significant stake in Olam Agri; meanwhile, Raffles Medical reported earnings growth, reflecting resilience in the healthcare sector. Elsewhere, we break down Singapore’s latest inflation numbers, SGX’s surge following new market-boosting measures, and the broader impact of global economic trends, including NVIDIA’s highly anticipated earnings report. On Market View on Money Matters, Alexandra Parada speaks to Willie Keng, Founder of The Dividend Titan, to help unpack these developments and what they mean for investors.

Singaporean investors are shunning local stocks as they seek quicker gains and better liquidity in global markets. But are there no great opportunities in the local stock market? Is it all a matter of perception? Are there any hidden gems investors are overlooking? Or is the Singapore stock market as bad as it’s made out to be? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dan Chang, Investment Specialist and Trading Representative, PhillipCapital, to find out more.

On a SIX-match winning streak in the league, with a SIX-point advantage at the top and a game in hand - the Lion City Sailors are gaining momentum in their pursuit of being crowned champions of the 24/25 Singapore Premier League season. But could the upcoming midweek clash against second-placed BG Tampines Rovers throw a spanner in the works? Deepanraj Ganesan weighs in, and reviews the rest of the action from MD26. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/lion-city-sailors-put-on-five-star-showing-for-third-victory-in-eight-days Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

VFlowTech is a Singapore-based company revolutionizing energy storage with its innovative vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) technology. Founded in 2018, VFlowTech focuses on creating scalable, safe, and sustainable energy storage solutions that address the challenges of renewable energy intermittency. With a commitment to eco-friendly and cost-effective technology, VFlowTech is paving the way for a cleaner, more reliable energy future. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Arjun Bhattarai, CTO & Co-Founder, VFlowTech, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Naz Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

In today’s session, we speak with a trailblazer in the Asian electric vehicle industry to find out all about the new venture he is involved in.  Joining us all the way from Taipei, Jack Cheng is Co-Founder of electric vehicle maker NIO and was formerly the Chairman of Fiat (China) Automobiles, and is now the chairman of a company called M Mobility.  M Mobility is a startup that aims to commercialise ideas formed within a Foxconn-led consortium called MIH platform.  For context, MIH, or Mobility in Harmony Consortium, is an organisation initiated by Foxconn to create an open EV ecosystem that promotes collaboration in the mobility industry.  The consortium realises key technologies, develop reference designs and standards, while bridging the gap between members in the ecosystem to lower barriers to entry, accelerate innovation, and shorten development cycles.  The goal is to bring strategic partners together to build the next generation of EV, autonomous driving and mobility service applications.   So back to M Mobility, the startup crafts EV solutions tailored for mobility service providers and fleet operators. It aims to connect innovative EV designs with the global supply chain. But what does the firm mean exactly by that and what is its value proposition exactly?  Meanwhile, M Mobility had in October 2023 became the first open EV platform licensee of the MIH Consortium. But how has it made use of MIH Consortium’s platform thus far?  What is also worthy of note is that the firm is said to be backed by Indian information technology services and consulting firm Tech Mahindra, and is working with Sumitomo Corporation EV services arm Hakobune to change the way people view mobility. But where do the different players come in to support M Mobility’s growth? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jack Cheng, Chairman, M Mobility.

Gold prices hold near record highs as trade war fears and inflation risks drive safe-haven demand. And some on Wall Street reckon gold prices may yet be headed higher. Some say prices may even reach above the key 3,000 dollar level next month. So can it? Can $3,000 be the next target? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alexandra Symeonidi, corporate credit analyst on William Blair’s emerging markets debt (EMD) team, to find out more.

Singapore stocks opened nearly flat this morning as global markets recorded declines overnight.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.02 per cent to 3,926.83 points after 64.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of counters to watch today, we have Seatrium after the offshore and marine specialist swung into the black with a net profit of S$120.9 million for the second half ended December to mark its first full-year profit on record. Elsewhere, from what high-level discussions between Washington and Moscow on the war in Ukraine mean for investors, to Alibaba surging 11 per cent on the back of forecast-topping sales figures – more international and corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

What would you sacrifice for a dream? For Singaporean boxer Danisha, the answer was everything — breaking a scholarship bond, leaving a stable healthcare career, and stepping into the unknown, all for the love of boxing. And she’s not just chasing medals — she’s fighting for the flag, and fighting to make history. As Singapore’s first boxer in decades to qualify for the Asian Games, Danisha Mathialagan now has her sights set on more. Tune in to hear her incredible journey of grit and glory. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/combat-sports/singapore-boxer-danisha-mathialagan-sacrifices-full-time-job-as-she-eyes-sea-games-medal-in-2025 Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

We’ve taken you through the ins and outs of over 300 companies globally over the past two years. That’s almost one company every one or two working days – rain or shine.  But there is one company that we have not talked about all this time. And that is the company behind our radio station MONEY FM 89.3. Yes we are talking about the Singapore Press Holdings or more specifically what’s now known as SPH Media. With its legacy tracing back to the years 1845 and 1923 with the first runs of the English daily The Straits Times and the predecessor of Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, SPH Media is a leading media group with operations in publishing print and digital newspapers, magazines and books.  The firm started out as SPH Limited in August 1984 where it brought together newspaper brands from two companies, namely The Straits Times Press Group (STP) and the Singapore News and Publications Limited (SNPL), as well as two other publishing, production and distribution companies called Times Publishing Bhd (TP) and Singapore Newspaper Services Pte Ltd (SNS). At that point, the company published seven newspapers in three languages – The Straits Times, Berita Harian, The Business Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao, Shin Min Daily News and the Singapore Monitor.  The mission is to be the trusted source of news on Singapore and Asia and to represent the communities that make up Singapore and to connect them to the world. Over four decades have passed since and the business has now expanded to also own and operate radio stations and outdoor media, including MONEY FM 89.3. SPH Limited also underwent a restructuring of the media business, with SPH Media taking over SPH Limited’s entire media related business and operating as a public company limited by guarantee.  But why are we speaking to SPH Media you might ask? Well, we want to find out how SPH Media is preparing for the future as media companies around the world transform their century old business models in a digital world.  We also want to talk about the rise in news consumption through social media platforms and what that means for traditional media. Also on the agenda – how the rise in social media usage changes the way mainstream media outlets create, promote and distribute their news stories.  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Chan Yeng Kit, CEO, SPH Media.

Inheriting a family business is often seen as a privilege, but for second- and third-generation leaders, the challenge lies in balancing tradition with transformation. While conventional wisdom suggests that only a fraction of family businesses successfully transition to the next generation, recent insights indicate a greater resilience, particularly when these businesses embrace innovation. Some choose to preserve the legacy while others push for reinvention, but how do they decide which path to take? On The Peak Special on The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Zat, Editor-in-Chief of The Peak Singapore, to find out more.