Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

From red cards to recruitment strategy, from leadership to life after Tomoyuki Doi - Geylang International’s season hasn’t gone to plan. Sports Miniutes sits down with the Eagle's club captain Joshua Pereira to unpack the downfall, the dressing room mood, and the road ahead. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Today we’re going to turn the clock back to the 1800s to share with you the story of a young man, Georges Nagelmackers, who had just fallen out of love.  Like some of us who might travel abroad to take a breather, Nagelmackers fled to the US, where he discovered railroads with the world’s first sleeping cars.  The enterprising Belgian engineer decided to take that idea back to Europe, where he would launch luxurious trains leading to the Gates of the Orient.  That’s right, we are talking about the Orient Express, or the luxurious train experience provider that would later be further popularised by a suspense novel by writer Agatha Christie in the early 1930s.  Then called the CIWL (Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits), or The International Sleeping Car company, Orient Express’ inaugural trip happened in October 1883 from Paris to Constantinople (or the modern day Istanbul), redefining the meaning of long distance travel for luxury travelers.  As we know, the development of air travel has changed the way people move between places. That dealt a blow to CIWL, and eventually, the Orient Express made its last direct trip between Paris and Istanbul in 1977.  That same year, the SNCF or the French National Railway Company acquired the Orient Express brand, and the last Orient-Express train left Vienna for Strasbourg in December 2009.  But hope is not lost. Nearly 140 years after making its first trip, Accor Hotels fully bought over and redeveloped the brand in 2022, expanding the portfolio of Orient Express to include hotels and even yacht sailings.  As for the original Orient Express carriages – they will be back on railway tracks in 2027, though details are still scant at the moment. So, what should we know about the Orient Express portfolio of hospitality solutions today, and what is next for the firm?  In this episode of Under the Radar “SPECIALS”, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Group Chief Strategy Officer of Accor & CEO of Orient Express.

US President Donald Trump has warned that countries could face higher tariffs and even potential licence fees if they “play games” with recent trade deals, following court moves that blocked parts of his global tariff strategy. With the Supreme Court of the US limiting some of his sweeping levies, Trump has signaled that alternative legal tools, including possible new investigations under Section 301 through the Office of the United States Trade Representative, could be used to impose further trade pressure. How serious are these threats and how might US trading partners respond? And could this approach reshape future global trade negotiations? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Dylan Loh, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Global Affairs at Nanyang Technological University, to find out more.

Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Luxury Sales reached HK$1 billion, reinforcing Asia’s position as a global centre for high-value collecting. Exceptional performance across categories including world-auction records for rare Hermès handbags, Patek Philippe references, and Kashmir sapphires pushed hammer prices far above expectations. With nearly 20% new buyers and more than half of participants bidding online, the season reflects an evolving collector base that is younger, broader, and increasingly comfortable treating luxury assets as both cultural objects and investment-grade stores of value. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Winsy Tsang, Head of Department, Handbags & Accessories, Christie’s Asia Pacific, to unpack the trends behind this record-breaking market and what they reveal about the future of luxury collecting in Asia.  

On today’s episode of What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into the viral coffee-shop glitch that accidentally turned a UK woman into a quadrillionaire, but only inside one café. And the surprising return of landlines as parents bring back the house phone for their kids. From accidental “riches” to retro tech making a comeback, we unpack the chaos, the nostalgia, and the unexpected lessons behind both stories.

Singapore shares slid today as investors continue to mull uncertainties relating to US tariffs on global trading partners. The Straits Times Index was down 0.52% at 5,015.04 points at 2.12pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.48B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have UOB, after the bank said today that its net profit for the fourth quarter fell 7 per cent on the back of margin pressures from lower benchmark rates. Elsewhere, from how US President Donald Trump warned countries against backing away from recently negotiated trade deals after the Supreme Court struck down his emergency tariffs, to a fresh trade tangle between Japan and China, more international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Eddy Loh, Chief Investment Officer, Maybank Group Wealth Management.

When the referee becomes the headline (again), you know there’s a problem. Kyoga Nakamura’s elbow went unpunished, while weeks ago Madhu Mohana was sanctioned for a similar incident. Sports Minutes speaks exclusively to Madhu himself, plus Deepanraj Ganesan weighs in as we - uncover the consistently inconsistent levels of officiating in the Singapore Premier League. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Markets are volatile, interest rates remain uncertain, and global risks keep shifting. At the same time, investors are faced with a growing mix of traditional assets and newer alternatives, making it harder to know what truly works in different market conditions. How should seasoned investors balance these options? What do they have to consider when structuring wealth across borders, including the practical risks and trade-offs that don’t always get the spotlight? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Tanaporn “Giig” Yowa, Founder & CEO of Unique Prime Group, to find out more.

The US has announced a potential 15% across-the-board tariff on imports, prompting Singapore to seek urgent clarity from its US counterparts on how the measures will be implemented. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said the key concern is uncertainty, especially as details remain unclear following recent US court rulings and policy changes. What could the new tariff proposal mean for Singapore’s exports, competitiveness and economic outlook? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Jayant Menon, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, to find out more.

First, a sign at the Kampong Glam Ramadan Bazaar is making waves, with a direct message to food influencers asking for kindness before criticism. Is it a fair request in the age of viral reviews, or are public opinions simply part of running a business?  Then, we turn to Japan, where a seven-month-old baby monkey named Punch has captured global attention. From clinging to a stuffed orangutan for comfort to inspiring a viral social media moment, Punch’s story has even sparked brand responses and a sell-out of plush toys. How did one emotional video turn into an internet sensation and what does it say about the power of social media today? On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh break down the headlines, the reactions, and the bigger questions behind the trends.