Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

A passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair yesterday and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC. President Donald Trump confirmed earlier today that there were no survivors. The collision is the deadliest aviation disaster in the US since November 12, 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed in New York, killing all 260 people on board. Many questions remain in the investigation of what caused the collision. As information trickles in regarding what caused a plane and a helicopter to collide in Washington DC, all eyes are on air traffic rules and regulations.  In the first national tragedy of his second term in the White House, President Donald Trump wasted no time Thursday baselessly blaming Democrats and diversity initiatives in the federal government for the midair collision. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with US-based aviation safety expert, Anthony Brickhouse.

Singapore shares started trading in positive territory today, mirroring activities in global markets. The Straits Times Index (STI) opened 1.1 per cent higher at 3,843.23 points after 54.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch today, we have Singtel, after the telecommunications giant’s Australian subsidiary, Optus, signed a A$1.95 billion (S$1.64 billion) committed revolving credit facility with 12 banks. Elsewhere, from how Samsung Electronics' operating profits surging 129.85% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, to Apple topping Wall Street’s estimates even as iPhone sales fell, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck, more on the outlook of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Sunny Soh, Lead Technical Analyst (Capital Markets & Investor Education), SIAS.

With the United States under a second Trump administration, digital assets, led by Bitcoin are once again in the spotlight. President Trump’s recent executive order promoting cryptocurrency and exploring a national digital asset stockpile signals a major shift in US policy from the Biden administration. Does this signal a new era in financial disruption? Whether we’re talking about the explosive growth of Bitcoin, the growing regulatory focus on CBDCs, or the rise of private cryptocurrencies, the landscape of money is evolving rapidly. What does this mean in the context of a Trump 2.0 presidency? On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Vikash Dhanuka, Founder and Chair at 129Knots. 129Knots is a groundbreaking business that aims to deliver AI-enabled credit to global businesses, pivoting from traditional finance. 

Travel with a twist! Weekend warrriors are turning their social games into pro-level adventures overseas. Complete with referees, live broadcast and the adreneline of high-level competition. Intrigued and interested? Sports minutes has the details! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/want-to-feel-like-a-pro-footballer-weekend-warriors-travel-from-singapore-to-vietnam-for-the Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Inspired by Morning Brew and Axios, she wanted to make a newsletter that covered tech and business in Southeast Asia. The topic area made sense: she’s based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, itself a growing tech hub. Fast forward to today, tens of thousands of founders, investors, and tech workers globally trust BackScoop for their daily dose of industry news. But what sets BackScoop apart from all the other newsletter in the market?  On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Amanda Cua, Founder & CEO at BackScoop to find out more. 

Hong Kong is at a pivotal moment as it strives to position itself as a global hub for commodities trading, particularly for precious metals. With its proximity to China, the world’s largest consumer of base and precious metals, and its role as an international financial centre, the city is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between Asia’s growing demand and global trading influence. As BRICS countries drive a significant portion of global commodities demand, Hong Kong has a unique opportunity to serve as a vital trading hub for BRICS countries and the broader Asian market. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gregor Gregersen, Founder of Silver Bullion Group, to find out how Hong Kong can capitalise on this opportunity and establish itself as a benchmark-setting commodities hub.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Nadiah Koh Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Singapore shares started trading in positive territory today, ahead of a shortened session due to the Chinese New Year holidays.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.8 per cent at 3,827.76 points after 30.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have DBS after the bank announced yesterday that it acquired an additional stake in Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank, increasing its stake from 16.7 per cent to 19.4 per cent.  Elsewhere, from how Nvidia lost nearly US$600 billion in market value overnight after the rise in Chinese AI firm DeepSeek caused a meltdown in US tech counters, to the impact of DeepSeek on Singapore’s data centre Reits, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.    On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Desmond Chua, Investment Counselor, Citigold Private Client, Citibank Singapore.

Surety is a FemTech company based in Singapore, dedicated to empowering mature women as they navigate the often-overlooked challenges of perimenopause and menopause.  Recognizing that menopause is a natural yet stigmatized phase in a woman’s life, Surety has developed a groundbreaking platform to provide essential knowledge, tools, and community support.  Their offerings include a comprehensive mobile application designed to help women track symptoms, access evidence-based healthcare resources, and connect with trusted providers.  The platform also promotes holistic health strategies, enabling women to proactively manage their symptoms and optimize their physical and emotional well-being. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Valery Tan, CEO & Co-Founder & Elmer Yap, COO & Co-Founder, Surety Singapore, to find out more.

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, festive shopping and reunion dinner preparations are in full swing – but so are scammers. With the rush to secure deals, the risk of online scams is surging. Meta’s recent report of 9,000 phishing URLs in Singapore highlights the growing threat of fraudulent promotions. Now more than ever, consumers must stay vigilant against these evolving dangers. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Tim Falinski, Vice President of Consumer Business, Trend Micro, to find out how to remain vigilant from scams this festive period.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

As the diamond market continues to evolve, investors are now considering two distinct paths: the classic allure of natural diamonds or the rapidly growing sector of lab-grown diamonds.  While natural diamonds have long been seen as a symbol of exclusivity and luxury, lab-grown diamonds offer an intriguing alternative, with lower costs and a more sustainable production process.  But do lab-grown diamonds have the same investment opportunity as real diamonds?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Fabio M Cascapera, Presiden of Diamond Exchange of Singapore to delve into the investment potential of both, exploring the factors driving each market and what investors need to know as they navigate this sparkling new frontier.