Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares moved higher today even as most Asian markets traded lower. The Straits Times Index was up 0.4% at 4,458.06 points at 2.35pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.03B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit, after the US office-focused Reit posted distributable income of US$30.4 million for the third quarter ended Sep 30, down 14.8 per cent from US$35.7 million in the previous corresponding period.  Elsewhere, from how Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump today signed a framework agreement for securing the supply of rare earths and what this means for US-China trade ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, to how Amazon is reportedly planning to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs beginning today, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Too Jun Cheong, Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.

The United Nations climate summit, COP30, will take place in Brazil this November amid growing concern that many countries have yet to submit their 2035 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. Fewer than a third of the nearly 200 parties have met the deadline, raising questions about global ambition and political will to tackle the climate crisis. Singapore, however, was among the first to submit its target, pledging to cut emissions to between 45 and 50 million tonnes by 2035, showing a steady path toward net zero by 2050. On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Melissa Low, Research Fellow, Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore and Head, NUS Sustainability Academy, to explore why some countries have yet to submit their 2035 climate targets ahead of COP30 and what Singapore’s early submission signals about its climate ambitions.

Singaporeans are rethinking what it means to retire. As more choose to design their own timelines, embracing ideas like micro-retirement and unretirement, a new kind of retirement flexibility is taking shape. But with only a third feeling financially ready, the question is whether their investment plans are evolving as fast as their ambitions. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nick Tong, Head of Southeast Asia Intermediary Distribution at T. Rowe Price, to find out more.

Right Media is an AI-driven company founded by real estate veteran Rick Long, designed to reimagine how the property journey feels, not just how it performs. After 15 years in the industry, Rick saw that clients rarely struggle with a lack of information - they struggle with how fragmented and confusing the process feels. Right Media was born from that insight: to create clarity, calm, and confidence through design and intelligent technology. At its core, Right Media builds AI-powered interfaces that guide clients and agents through every stage of a property transaction from motivations to pricing strategy, from timelines to long-term goals, all within one shared, intuitive space. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks to Rick Long, Associate Senior Division Director, Huttons Asia, to find out more.

Singapore shares inched higher today, tracking advances seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.59% at 4,448.32 points at 1.07pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$677.25M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have ASL Marine, after the shipbuilder said it was working closely with the authorities regarding a fire at its Batam facility on Oct 15. Elsewhere, from how Asian markets surged on a breakthrough in US-China trade talks, with Japan and South Korea breaching key levels, to how Toyota saw worldwide production increase by more than 10 per cent in September, more international and corporate headlines in focus. Also on deck, a look ahead to corporate reports out of Singapore and the US this week. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

What does bigger, bolder, better really mean? Sports Minutes finds out from Netball Singapore's CEO Daniel Ho and Singlife's chief marketing officer Debra Soon - as they reveal how the 2025 Singlife Nations Cup will raise the bar for the sport in Singapore. Event information and tickets: https://ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/25sg_nationscup Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Marketing and communications has been an integral part of companies in shaping their brand image, selling values, advertising their products and services, which ultimately rings in the dollars and cents seen on balance sheets. But despite the importance of the profession, modern marketing as we know it to be is a relatively new field of business that took off only in the 1900s, with the widespread consumption of radio and television content. Our guest for today is one of the early players in the industry. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, our guest for today is Dentsu, one of the largest global marketing and communications networks in the world.  The Tokyo-listed company boasts a presence spanning across 110 countries and regions, and is said to combine the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for enterprise customers.  That is particularly so through its landmark acquisition of UK-based Aegis Group for 3.2 billion British pounds back in 2012, and its purchase of US-based customer relationship management firm Merkle to expand its footprint and standing on the global stage.  In Singapore, Dentsu operates as a strategic hub for Southeast Asia, and delivers what it calls end-to-end experience transformation for brands, people and society. Yet, Dentsu's rapid internationalisation moves come at a cost – the kinks involved in integrating acquisition targets have put a dent on financial performance.  In August 2025, the firm reported an operating loss of 62 billion yen (S$540 million) for the quarter ended June, after booking an 86 billion yen impairment loss due to sluggish performance in the US and Europe. The company also said it will cut about 3,400 jobs in markets outside of Japan, or about 8 per cent of headcount in the region to streamline operations.  And in that same month, a report by the Financial Times noted that Dentsu is considering selling its international business.  So where are things at right now, and what would the recent developments mean for Dentsu’s Southeast Asia and Singapore’s operations? What would they mean for Dentsu's global growth ambitions too? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Prakash Kamdar, CEO, Clients & Solutions, SEA, and CEO, Singapore, Dentsu.

In February 2019, three-year-old Megan Khung began missing school. A year later, she was dead, after suffering physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother and the woman’s boyfriend. On Oct 23, a review panel appointed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) released a report that detailed the actions of the agencies involved in Megan’s case. It revealed that within a year, there were several lapses at various agencies – including the MSF’s Child Protective Service (CPS) and the police – that ultimately led to the tragedy. What were these lapses? Could we have done more to prevent her death? What can we learn to prevent another tragedy like this from happening again? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Cindy Ng, Director of Melrose Home, to find out more. 

Gold and silver have just seen their biggest drop in years, rattling investors and sending analysts back to the drawing board. Once tipped to hit $5,000 an ounce by 2026, gold’s outlook is now in question. Is this just a temporary pullback or the start of something bigger? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alexandra Symeonidi, corporate credit analyst on William Blair's emerging markets debt (EMD) team, to find out more.

Most doctors stick to the script — steady careers, rising pay, and clear recognition. But Dr Yudara Kularathne took a different path. Once an emergency medicine specialist, he left the ER for Silicon Valley — with no salary — to pursue a bold mission: building AI systems to close healthcare’s most stigmatised gaps and transform care for a billion people. Now back in Singapore as the founder of AIGP Health, he’s using AI to redesign primary care, tackle clinician burnout, and improve patient outcomes. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong spoke with Dr Yudara Kularathne, Co-Founder & CTO, AIGP Health, to find out more.