Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Silverware galore at home. A landmark run in Asia. But ultimately, not enough. Aleksandar Rankovic joins Sports Minutes to reflect on his departure as head coach from Lion City Sailors - discussing continental ambitions, squad evolution, and the moment he knew his time at the club might be coming to an end. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Semiconductors are the invisible foundation of our digital world – powering everything from data centres and electric vehicles to smartphones and even satellites.  But behind the global chip ecosystem lies precision engineering firms that make tools and parts used in the manufacturing process.  And our guest for today, Micro-Mechanics, is one of them. Founded in 1983, and listed on the SGX-Sesdaq in Singapore in 2003, the company designs and manufactures a range of consumable tools and parts used in the assembly and testing of semiconductors.  The company also engages in the contract manufacturing of precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the semiconductor wafer-fabrication and other high-technology industries.  In July 2008, the listing and quotation of Micro-Mechanics’ shares were upgraded to the SGX Mainboard.  Today, Micro-Mechanics’ boasts a headcount of 450 globally, with five factories located in Singapore, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as in Silicon Valley in the US.  Micro-Mechanics is a company that we want to talk about right now, given how ongoing trade tensions and tariff spat between the US and China have thrusted the semiconductor industry and supply chain into the spotlight. Despite global headwinds, Micro-Mechanics said it was somewhat sheltered given how it had plants set up in both China and the US.  So how is the firm capitalising on its relative advantage in the global semiconductor supply chain right now, and what are the growth opportunities present within the industry right now? How does the firm assess the role of its presence in Singapore, and the vibrancy of the local stock market in boosting its valuation? In this Special episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kyle Borch, CEO, Micro-Mechanics.

China is pioneering a new trend where AI clones take over entire livestreams, leaving human hosts as passive “props.” This silent streamer phenomenon is a warning for Singapore as AI becomes more integrated into workplaces. With six months of free premium AI access under Budget 2026, the key challenge is turning tools into skills, learning to lead AI ethically, strategically, and with judgment. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Martin Li, Digital Marketing Instructor, Vertical Institute, to explore how Singaporeans can avoid becoming “human props” and develop AI-ready behaviours.

On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Zia-ul Raushan unpack the debate surrounding the alleged “accidental” deletion of a public figure’s Instagram account, and why some online users are questioning how easy (or difficult) it really is to permanently remove a social media profile.  Then, they shift gears into science’s newest frontier: smart underwear. Researchers in the US are recruiting volunteers to help track human flatulence in real time as part of a study aimed at better understanding gut health and microbial activity. Yes, wearable tech has officially entered the world of intestinal gas research.

Solana has bounced from ~$75 lows back toward $80, showing early signs of stabilisation after months of heavy volatility. With key resistance at $78, $82, and $85, combined with consistent inflows into Solana-linked ETFs despite a 40% drop, investors are weighing whether this is a temporary relief bounce or the start of a deeper trend reversal. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Daryl Teo, Managing Partner at Dakota Ventures, to explore whether Solana is a buy opportunity, which levels could define its next move, and what the latest institutional flows are signaling for investors.

Singapore shares dipped today as investors continue to monitor earnings out of the country. The Straits Times Index was down 0.23% at 4,995.97 points at 12.36pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.10B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have AEM, after the semiconductor equipment maker posted a net profit of S$13.9 million for H2 FY2025, up 32 per cent from S$10.5 million the year before.  Elsewhere, from how chipmaker Nvidia posted better-than-expected results for the January quarter and forecast current-quarter revenue above market estimates, to how Singapore firms delivered their biggest dividend haul yet in 2025, more corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital. 

A viral travel hack has left people stunned. A US influencer shared a video suggesting travellers could wash their underwear in a hotel room coffee maker. Genius shortcut or completely unhygienic?  Then, we shift gears to road signs, from familiar traffic signs in Singapore to a surprising and very real warning sign in Japan featuring cats. What does it mean, why does it exist, and should Singapore have one too? From hotel rooms to highways, from hygiene debates to hilarious road signs, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada break down the stories on What's Trending. 

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow with the US Programme at IDSS, RSIS, to unpack US President Donald Trump’s record-breaking State of the Union address — the longest in modern history at 1 hour and 48 minutes. Delivered during his second term, the speech set out what Trump described as a “turnaround for the ages,” covering key issues including the economy, crime, immigration, trade and foreign policy. What does the address reveal about Trump’s priorities for the years ahead? What strategy underpins his messaging? And what signals does it send about the future direction of US policy both domestically and internationally?

Tether is reshaping the gold market. The crypto giant has been rapidly scaling its physical gold purchases, reaching levels typically reserved for central banks and sovereign investors. This unprecedented move is blurring the lines between digital and traditional stores of value, forcing investors and markets to rethink the relationship between Bitcoin, gold, and emerging crypto players. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Ivan Lee, Head of Trading at QCP Group, to unpack what this convergence of crypto and gold means for investors, markets, and the future of money.

Singapore shares dipped today as investors digest a slew of corporate earnings from blue chip companies in the country. The Straits Times Index was down 0.3% at 5,005.57 points at 2.41pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.46B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Genting Singapore after the company yesterday reported a 30 per cent decline in net profit for the second half of its financial year to S$155.6 million, from S$222 million in the same year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from investors’ reactions to US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, to how markets in Japan and South Korea reached record highs, more international headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck – more on investors’ sentiment towards the AI trade as Anthropic unveiled 10 new ways for business customers to use its AI plugins, and as they looked ahead to Nvidia’s latest earnings due overnight. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kenneth Goh, Director, Private Wealth Management, UOB Kay Hian.