Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Gold prices surpassed the key $2,800 mark for the first time last Friday, fuelled by a rush to safety following the U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats, which heightened concerns about global economic growth and inflationary pressures. Bullion is a preferred asset during times of economic and geopolitical turmoil. And it’s on track to record its best monthly performance since March 2024, rising nearly 7% so far. So can the metal surpass multiple record peaks like it did last year? What’s behind the recent gold rally? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gautam Chadda, Head of Investment and Portfolio Advisory (Singapore) at RBC Wealth Management Asia, to find out more.

Oil prices saw a rollercoaster ride last week - bouncing back from multi-week lows, after the White House reaffirmed US President Donald Trump's plans to issue tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Now this comes as President Donald Trump has said he will ask Saudi Arabia and other Opec nations to "bring down the cost of oil", doubling-down on his threat to use tariffs. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Priyanka Sachdeva, Senior Market Analyst, Phillip Nova, to find out more about the latest oil market movements.

Singapore shares tumbled at the open today as investors mulled over the impact of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump over the weekend. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) slipped 1.5 per cent to 3,800.1 points after 87.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Sembcorp Industries, after the energy and urban development company inked a share purchase agreement with CleanCurrent Renewable Energy in the Philippines to acquire Puente Al Sol.  Elsewhere, from investors’ reactions to US tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, to billionaire Elon Musk’s plans for the country’s Department of Government Efficiency – more global headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

US President Donald Trump has followed through on his promise to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. That’s not all. Trump has also threatened to widen the scope of his trade tariffs - to include the European Union – and potentially the UK. Could this trigger a world trade war on our hands? Which country is next to be hit with tariffs? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Jayant Menon, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, to find out more.

The Singapore Premier League took a backseat this past weekend, as the 25th edition of the Singapore Cup got underway - and got underway it did! 4 matches, 17 goals, 2 hat-tricks - and one HIGHLY contentious VAR decision. We discuss it all on Sports Minutes! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/bg-tampines-rovers-concede-last-minute-equaliser-in-singapore-cup-opener Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and proactively hunt client-side web attacks in real time with its industry-first Browser Detection and Response (BDR) solution. Taking an attack-focused approach to browser security, SquareX protects enterprise users from advanced threats such as malicious QR codes, Browser-in-the-Browser phishing, macro-based malware, malicious extensions, and a variety of web-based attacks, including malicious files, websites, scripts, and compromised networks. SquareX also empowers enterprises to provide contractors and remote workers with secure access to internal applications and enterprise SaaS. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Vivek Ramachandran, Founder and CEO, SquareX, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Naz Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

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