Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Gold’s shine isn’t fading just yet. After a record-breaking rally and a brief pullback, analysts are still betting on more upside ahead. But with shifting global dynamics and weaker links to the U.S. dollar and interest rates, has gold’s role as a store of value changed for good? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sim Moh Siong, Currency Strategist, Bank of Singapore, to find out more.

Singapore shares dipped today as Asian markets traded lower. The Straits Times Index was down 0.11% at 4,480.03 points at 1.42pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.21B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have OCBC. The lender had reported a flat third-quarter net profit of S$1.98 billion today, beating a S$1.79 billion consensus forecast in a Bloomberg survey of five analysts.  Elsewhere from how shares of Singtel surged on the back of the sale of shares in Bharti Airtel, to how China’s exports unexpectedly slumped in October – more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – what comments from Federal Reserve officials on inflation mean for markets.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

It’s the story that captured hearts everywhere - a mother and daughter on opposite sides of the same football match. On Sports Minutes, Siti Nurwati and her daughter Hannah Tasha open up about the day that changed everything, how football deepened their bond, and what they hope for women’s football in Singapore. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/special-mom-ent-for-mother-daughter-pair-in-womens-national-league-match Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

From deepfake abuse to harassment and impersonation, victims of online harm have long faced a broken system. Now, victims can seek damages against platforms, administrators, and communicators under a law passed in Parliament on November 5. The legislation also paves the way for a one-stop government agency, set to be established by June 2026, which can direct platforms to remove harmful content. But will it really change how we behave online? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Rakesh Kirpalani, Director of Dispute Resolution & Information Technology and Chief Technology Officer at Drew & Napier, to find out more.

Offshore wind is no longer just a breeze on the horizon, it’s becoming a financial storm. With the sector set to add nearly 19 gigawatts of new capacity by 2025 and $80 billion in investments pouring in, investors are asking: what’s fueling this surge, how can you get a piece of the action, and could offshore wind soon become a mainstream investment opportunity? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Umang Mehrotra, Senior Analyst, Offshore wind research, Rystad Energy, to find out more.

Roblox and education rarely share the same sentence until Ottodot came along. Founded in Singapore, Ottodot bridges gameplay and pedagogy by turning math and science lessons into immersive learning adventures inside Roblox. Its platform is designed around the Singapore MOE syllabus and led by trained educators, creating a safe, engaging environment where kids learn through inquiry, exploration, and collaboration. With over 300% year-on-year growth and backing from top investors, Ottodot is pioneering a new frontier where gaming and learning go hand in hand. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Le Yi Khor, Co-founder & CEO, Ottodot, to find out more.

Singapore shares moved higher today, tracking gains seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 1.4% at 4,478.76 points at 2.02pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.75B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have DBS. The Singapore lender posted today a net profit for the third quarter ended Sep 30, 2025, that declined 2 per cent to S$2.95 billion, compared with S$3.03 billion in the same year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from what a jump in US private payrolls and scepticism over the legality of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs mean for investors, to how shares of Chinese self-driving startups Pony.AI and WeRide tumbled on their Hong Kong debuts, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

Fashion is an art, but it is also big business. And our guest for today H&M Group has proven that the two can coexist at scale.  Since opening its first store nearly eight decades ago in 1947, the Swedish fashion giant has evolved to a network of over 4,000 stores across 79 markets, with online sales available in 60 markets.  The company prides itself on a simple promise: making great and sustainable designs available to everyone. Fast forward to 2025, and H&M is seeing strong momentum. In September, the firm reported a bigger than expected rise in third-quarter profit.  Operating profit from June to August came in at 4.91 billion Swedish crowns (or about US$523 million). That’s up from the 3.51 billion seen a year ago, and well above the 3.68 billion crowns forecasted by analysts in an LSEG poll.  The numbers come as CEO Daniel Erver embarked on an overhaul of the brand to improve profitability through trendier collections, tighter cost controls and a refreshed marketing strategy.  But even as H&M celebrates its early success, the broader business environment is shifting.  US tariffs are weighing on imports to and consumption within the US – the retailer’s second largest market after Germany.  So how far would that make Asia a bright spot for growth for H&M, and how does H&M intend to compete with other big name players such as Inditex’s Zara, Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo and even e-commerce first players like Shein and Temu? And perhaps more importantly – which Asian markets hold the greatest promise for the next chapter of H&M’s growth given China’s uneven economic recovery? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Saed El-Achkar, President H&M East Asia & Greater China.

From phishing texts to fake job offers, scams have quietly drained billions from Singapore over the years. Now, the response is anything but quiet.  A sweeping new law introduces caning for scammers and money mules, a dramatic escalation in the fight against digital crime.  But as Parliament turns up the heat, questions emerge: will harsher punishment truly deter scams  or does this mark a new chapter in Singapore’s justice system? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mark Yeo, Director, Fortress Law Corporation, to find out more. 

Asia REITs surged in September, led by Singapore and Australia, fueled by strong property fundamentals, lower interest costs, and attractive yields. The Manulife Asia Pacific REIT Fund has seen a ~20% year-to-date gain, with retail and diversified REITs at the forefront. What’s driving this rally, which sectors are leading, and what lies ahead for investors in the region? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Derrick Heng, Director, Portfolio Manager, Equities, at Manulife Investment Management, to find out more.