Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The world of luxury isn’t just about indulgence. But it’s also about creating truly unforgettable experiences. The Lumenere Group (TLG) specialises in designing exclusive events that not only leave a lasting impression on high-net-worth clients but also deliver strong ROI for brands. With a deep understanding of the affluent mindset, The Lumenere Group is a leader in in-person marketing, helping brands cater to discerning customers in meaningful ways. How is TLG revolutionizing the luxury experience landscape?  On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kevin Ou, Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of The Lumenere Group to find out more.

Elon Musk has placed a $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, the AI organisation he co-founded in 2015. This offer comes after tensions with OpenAI’s leadership, particularly over the company’s shift from a non-profit to a for-profit model. His bid raises important questions about the future direction of OpenAI, the ethical considerations of AI development, and Musk’s broader influence on the industry. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sumit Agarwal, Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professor of Finance at the Business School and a Professor of Economics and Real Estate at the National University of Singapore, to find out more.

Co-living is quickly becoming a popular and attractive investment strategy for savvy investors looking to boost rental income and diversify their portfolios. As the property market evolves, traditional investment models like single-family homes are being complemented by innovative shared living spaces that cater to the modern lifestyle. But, while co-living has gained much traction in Singapore, individuals don't typically get the opportunity to purchase their own building. What if you could invest in your own co-living space overseas in Australia?  On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Steven Galanos, Co-Founder, Solaris Property Group to find out more.

On Monday, 10 February 2025  - a video filmed by a member of the public emerged, showing an altercation in the aftermath a Singapore Premier League Under-21 game between Tanjong Pagar United and Albirex Niigata. A police statement has since confirmed that a 19-year-old man has been arrested for public nuisance and is being investigated for voluntarily causing hurt, while a 20-year-old man was conveyed conscious to the hospital on the night of the incident before being discharged the day after on Tuesday, 11 February 2025. Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times, sits down with Sports Minutes to tell us more. READ MORE:  https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/19-year-old-footballer-arrested-after-punching-incident-at-singapore-premier-league-under-21-match Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore shares began the day trading in the positive territory after markets abroad ended the previous day clocking wins.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.3 per cent to 3,886.82 points after 50.1 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Paragon Reit given how Times Properties is looking to take Paragon Reit private by way of a trust scheme arrangement, for S$0.98 per unit.  Elsewhere, from US President Donald Trump raising tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to how a consortium led by Elon Musk offered US$97.4 billion to purchase the nonprofit that controls OpenAI – more international and corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeremy Tan, CEO, Tiger Fund Management.

When our next guest saw a 2014 viral video of people playing soccer while wearing inflatable suits, the wheels started turning. Within two months, she co-founded The Fun Empire, a team-building and events company based in Singapore. Their team-building activities range from bubble soccer and boxing to cooking classes and escape rooms. FunEmpire isn’t just a local success story, they’ve organized over 50,000 events and served more than 1 million happy clients. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Natasha Toh, Co-founder, FunEmpire to find out more. 

A look ahead to Budget 2025. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong will deliver Singapore’s 2025 Budget statement in parliament next week - Feb 18th at 3.30pm. What can we look forward to in terms of support for businesses and SMEs? What can be done to nudge SMEs to do more to drive productivity through digital and automation solutions? And how will Budget2025 tackle these challenges?  On Money Matters, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Koh Kar Siong, Managing Director & Group Head, Corporate and SME Banking, Institutional Banking Group, DBS, to find out more.

The AI revolution is well under way. And two companies are leading it – DeepSeek and Nvidia. But with Deepseek coming in as a new player - does this end the AI arms race? Is it worth investing in AI related stocks? Is there more idiosyncratic risk in US mega caps than some investors seem to understand? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Desmond Chua, Investment Counselor, Citigold Private Client, Citibank Singapore, to find out more.

Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) has broken  through to a new record high today. The index traded as high as 3,912.38 points just after the open. Its last record was 3,906.16 points on Oct 10, 2007.  In terms of companies to watch, we have DBS. The lender posted net profit for the fourth quarter that was 11 per cent higher compared to the year-ago period at S$2.52 billion, but it fell slightly short of expectations.  Elsewhere, from US President Donald Trump ramping up his trade war by announcing huge tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, to how Japan’s current account surplus jumped to a record last year – more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Willie Keng, Founder, Dividend Titan.

Ryhan Stewart rescued a point late on for 10-men Albirex Niigata in their match against Geylang International, but it wasn't the goal that has garnered the headlines - but instead it was his celebration and post-match 'antics'. Was Ryhan right to celebrate in the manner that he did? We discuss that and all the rest of the headlines from MD25 in the Singapore Premier League - in the company of Deepanraj Ganesan. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/ryhan-stewart-clips-the-eagles-wings-with-stoppage-time-equaliser-for-albirex-niigata-in-spl Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg