Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that often goes misunderstood, creating a lonely experience for sufferers. In Singapore, 1 in 116 persons had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at some point in their lives, making schizophrenia the most common among all psychotic disorders in Singapore. How can we navigate the stigma around mental health illnesses like schizophrenia? What more do we know about research that is being done to help individuals who have this illness?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Joyce Teo, Senior Health Correspondent, The Straits Times to find out more.  To find out more, you can tune in to the Health Check podcast on The Straits Times every first Wednesday of the month.  

Singapore shares started trading in negative territory today, mirroring the global markets. The Straits Times Index (STI) opened down 0.3 per cent at 3,792.54 points after 45.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Keppel, after the company was granted a licence by the US to build a 20,000 km subsea cable system linking Singapore to the US.  Elsewhere, from Singapore-listed US office Reits surging on the back of US President Donald Trump’s executive order for federal employees to return to work in the office, to how China’s DeepSeek topped Apple’s iPhone download charts, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.    On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Chin Hui Leong, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Ain’t no story like an underdog story, and that was the case in the Singapore Premier League this past weekend! A host of interim managers making instant impacts - with Hougang United, Tanjong Pagar United & the Young Lions also securing memorable wins. We discuss and dissect it all on Sports Minutes, in the company of Deepanraj Ganesan. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/shawal-anuar-comes-back-to-haunt-former-side-as-sailors-go-six-points-clear-at-the-top-of-spl-table Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

In an era where digital assets and decentralized applications are growing rapidly, FailSafe is stepping in to ensure that both individuals and businesses can navigate this new landscape with confidence. FailSafe integrates artificial intelligence to provide real-time threat detection, advanced fraud prevention, and an extra layer of protection for everything from NFTs to DeFi protocols. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Aneirin Flynn, CEO & Co-Founder, FailSafe Aneirin Flynn to find out more.

You’ll more or less notice the signage of this company if you drive along the Tampines Expressway towards the airport - rain or shine. Here’s another hint – it is located within the Tampines Retail Park along with Giant hypermart.  If you’ve guessed COURTS, then bingo, you’ve got it right. But have you ever wondered if COURTS is a Singapore or a Malaysian furniture chain or who actually owns COURTS these days? Well, we will bring you all the answers in this interview.  With roots as a furniture retailer from the UK, COURTS started operations in Singapore half a century ago in 1974 and has since expanded to 13 stores spanning over 464,000 square feet of retail space. The firm expanded to Malaysia in 1987 and most recently ventured into the Indonesian market in 2014.  Once known as COURTS Asia Limited, the firm was previously listed on the mainboard of the Singapore Exchange in October 2012. That was until 2019, when Yokohama-based electrical appliance retailer Nojima Corporation bought over the company’s shares. Today, COURTS is wholly owned by Nojima Corporation, which runs over 900 stores and has a market capitalisation of S$1.8 billion on revenues of S$6.6 billion. So how has the firm changed over the years with Nojima Corporation as its parent? Meanwhile, COURTS is also an interesting company to look at because of its efforts to refresh its offerings to target the next generation of furniture shoppers.  For one thing, the firm had in 2019 opened its first internet-of-things store at Funan to better cater to smart home shoppers. It also opened the 189,000 square feet COURTS Nojima in 2022 to provide an experiential retail space for shoppers.  But how far has the firm’s moves captured the hearts of younger consumers and what are the key drivers of growth in the furniture industry as brick and mortar chains compete against online retailers?  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Harry Higashiura, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Nojima APAC and Country CEO of Singapore and Malaysia, COURTS.

In today’s evolving business landscape, the role of the executive chairman is under scrutiny. Proponents see it as essential for bridging board oversight and management, especially during transitions. Critics, however, argue it creates conflicts of interest, blurs accountability, and weakens governance. With a push toward streamlined operations and modern practices, the question remains: Should companies move away from the executive chairman role? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Mark Lee, Managing Director, WMH Law Corporation and Walter Silvester, Managing Director, Silvester Legal LLC, to find out.   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!

Singapore shares started trading in positive territory today, tracking a rise in other global markets. The Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.2 per cent higher at 3,814.98 points after 36.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch today, we have Keppel DC Reit, after its manager posted a DPU of S$0.04902 (4.902 Singapore cents) for the second half ended December, up 13.2 per cent from the previous corresponding period.  Meanwhile, from Singapore’s central bank easing monetary policy settings for the first time in over two years, to how the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis – more local and international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Sunny Soh, Lead Technical Analyst (Capital Markets & Investor Education), SIAS.

Web3.0 funding is not just financial but a partnership that aligns shared visions and technological aspirations, connecting innovative founders with forward-thinking investors. This crucial phase transforms funding into a pathway for growth, integrating startups into a wider community-driven network, and enhancing their influence and operational capabilities. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Max Stuedlein, Head of Strategic Digital Asset Solutions, Sygnum to find out more.

A former English pro with a pedigree as polished as his Mancunian accent, Hasney Aljofree is now rewriting Singapore’s football story - in his role as Head of Coach Development & Education with the Football Association of Singapore. What’s his take on youth development, coaching philosophies, and his son’s potential ties to the Lion City? Tune in for a no-holds-barred chat on Sports Minutes. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/kids-need-to-fall-in-love-with-football-says-fas-head-of-coach-education Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Founded in 2019 by Ravi Prasad, Almora Botanica is a luxury skincare and wellness brand rooted in the timeless principles of Ayurveda and elevated by cutting-edge scientific innovation. Inspired by Ravi’s personal journey of overcoming asthma through Ayurvedic remedies, Almora Botanica merges traditional ingredients with adaptogenic botanicals to create high-performance, sustainable, and clinically-validated products. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ravi Prasad, Co-Founder & CEO, Almora Botanica, to share more.   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!