Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Today we’re going to talk about a logistics company that started out of a second hand van a decade ago.  Founded in 2014 by a group of three friends, our guest is e-commerce express logistics company Ninja Van Group. Fast forward to the present, the firm is now a technology enabled logistics organisation backed by marquee investors including GeoPost, Alibaba, and B Capital Group. Just to give you a sense of the firm’s scale, Ninja Van said it has a 100% coverage across Southeast Asia, with established operations and networks in six key markets.  It offers logistics and supply chain products and services for nearly two million shippers, with some two million parcels delivered by its team of over 66,000 people daily.  Ninja Van is a company that we want to look at because the firm had in April 2024 launched a cold chain offering called Ninja Cold, as well as a business-to-business offering Ninja B2B, as part of efforts to diversify beyond e-commerce and search for higher margin businesses.  The move come as the firm’s latest financial filings for the financial year ended June 2023 revealed a loss of S$326.8 million in 2023  versus a loss of S$250.2 million in 2022.  So how does the firm assess its latest financial numbers? What does this say about the opportunities and challenges in operating and expanding within the logistics space?  And how successful has Ninja Cold and Ninja B2B been over half a year after they were launched? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Lai Chang Wen, CEO, Ninja Van.

China has experienced a spate of violent attacks this year. Earlier this month, a man ploughed a car into crowds at a sports complex in the southern city of Zhuhai, killing 35 and wounding 43. This attack follows a string of similar crimes as China struggles to revive economic growth, keep people employed and boost confidence. These types of attacks are challenging Beijing’s proud reputation for public order and prompting online soul-searching about the state of society. So what’s happening? What has become of a nation already struggling with inequality and escalating frustration? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Tan Dawn Wei, China Bureau Chief, The Straits Times.  Read more about this at the Straits Times:  3 mass murder sprees in just over a week: What’s driving some Chinese to take revenge on society? https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-battles-rare-wave-of-violent-crime-as-economic-woes-bite

What if football was more than just a game? On Sports Minutes, 17-year-old Denilson - a footballer with Geylang International - shares how the beautiful game became his safe haven from life’s challenges. From growing up without his parents to training in Japan, he talks about resilience, grit, and chasing a dream against all odds. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-gives-geylang-international-youth-player-denilson-purpose-and-new-experiences Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks traded lower this afternoon, as investors continued to digest the threat of Trump’s tariffs. As at about noon time (12.01 pm), the Straits Times Index (STI) was down 0.3 per cent at 3,702.8 points after 421.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Post, after the national postal service provider said yesterday that it was in exclusive talks with a third party for a potential sale of its Australia business, while stating that no definitive deal has been reached.  Elsewhere, from more on US President-elect Donald Trump’s move to choose tough-negotiating hawk and lawyer Jamieson Greer as his trade envoy, to CrowdStrike raising its annual revenue and profit forecasts – more international and corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Financial efficiency is the backbone of any successful organisation, yet many traditional tools fall short in addressing the unique needs of finance teams. Here enters a company which is transforming the way finance professionals work and that’s Summit. Summit's platform is specifically designed to streamline accounts payable processes, consolidate expense management, and provide real-time insights, empowering finance teams to save time, reduce costs, and improve financial control. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jo-Ann Chung the CEO of Summit, to share more how they're revolutionising financial workflows. 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!

Investing in luxury handbags has become a popular trend among fashion enthusiasts, collectors, and investors alike. In fact, according to the Straits Times' calculations, returns on Hermes’ Birkin bags nearly match those of S&P 500 investments. So what kind of returns can we expect from investing in a Birkin? Do all luxury bags have investment potential?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alyssa Woo, Assistant Business Editor, The Straits Times, to find out more.  You can also read more here:  Luxury bags as assets: Returns on Hermes’ Birkin bags nearly match those of S&P 500 investments https://www.straitstimes.com/business/invest/luxury-bags-as-assets-hermes-birkin-bags-give-returns-almost-similar-to-sp-500

For some, a fine wine portfolio is a chance to indulge in a passion of collecting some of the world’s finest and rarest wines. Others see fine wine as a valuable part of an investment portfolio. What kind of returns can we expect from investing in wine?  How do they differ from other alternative assets? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Joe Alim, Managing Director, Asia of Cult Wines to find out more. 

Singapore stocks were trading lower today, after US president-elect Donald Trump said he would impose an extra 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods. As at noon, the Straits Times Index (STI) was down 0.3 per cent to 3,720.24 points after 645.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Sats, because the in-flight caterer and ground handler intends to divest 49 per cent of its interest in its Saudi Arabia cargo-handling subsidiary for S$52.6 million to a private limited company incorporated in the kingdom.  Elsewhere, from more on Trump’s proposed tariffs on the US’ trading partners, to how Qualcomm’s interest in purchasing Intel has reportedly cooled – more international and corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeremy Tan, CEO, Tiger Fund Management.

Kintry is a proudly Malaysian snack brand born out of love, resilience, and a deep appreciation for food. Founded by Michelle Chai, a single mother inspired by her daughter’s dietary needs, Kintry began as a labor of love in her home kitchen. Michelle’s goal was simple yet heartfelt: to create snacks that were not only delicious but also wholesome, healthy, and reminiscent of the comfort of home. With this mission, Kintry has grown into a thriving business that offers artisanal snacks crafted from premium natural ingredients. The range includes a variety of mouthwatering options such as salted egg potato crisps, cookies, and granolas.  On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Michelle Chai, Founder of Kintry, 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!

The upcoming general election in 2025 will be a high-stakes one. That’s according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  Speaking at the People’s Action Party conference at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, he told party members: “Please don’t think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government.” He added that even a modest swing in popular votes against the PAP can lead to very different electoral outcomes.  What does he mean by this? What’s exactly at stake for the next general election? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr. Elvin Ong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, to find out more.