Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

A look ahead to Budget 2025. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong will deliver Singapore’s 2025 Budget statement in parliament next week - Feb 18th at 3.30pm. What can we look forward to in terms of support for businesses and SMEs? What can be done to nudge SMEs to do more to drive productivity through digital and automation solutions? And how will Budget2025 tackle these challenges?  On Money Matters, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Koh Kar Siong, Managing Director & Group Head, Corporate and SME Banking, Institutional Banking Group, DBS, to find out more.

The AI revolution is well under way. And two companies are leading it – DeepSeek and Nvidia. But with Deepseek coming in as a new player - does this end the AI arms race? Is it worth investing in AI related stocks? Is there more idiosyncratic risk in US mega caps than some investors seem to understand? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Desmond Chua, Investment Counselor, Citigold Private Client, Citibank Singapore, to find out more.

Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) has broken  through to a new record high today. The index traded as high as 3,912.38 points just after the open. Its last record was 3,906.16 points on Oct 10, 2007.  In terms of companies to watch, we have DBS. The lender posted net profit for the fourth quarter that was 11 per cent higher compared to the year-ago period at S$2.52 billion, but it fell slightly short of expectations.  Elsewhere, from US President Donald Trump ramping up his trade war by announcing huge tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, to how Japan’s current account surplus jumped to a record last year – more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Willie Keng, Founder, Dividend Titan.

Ryhan Stewart rescued a point late on for 10-men Albirex Niigata in their match against Geylang International, but it wasn't the goal that has garnered the headlines - but instead it was his celebration and post-match 'antics'. Was Ryhan right to celebrate in the manner that he did? We discuss that and all the rest of the headlines from MD25 in the Singapore Premier League - in the company of Deepanraj Ganesan. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/ryhan-stewart-clips-the-eagles-wings-with-stoppage-time-equaliser-for-albirex-niigata-in-spl Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

SIXiDES is Singapore’s first AI-powered renovation platform, making home renovations seamless, transparent, and stress-free. Homeowners can upload photos, set budgets, and receive AI-driven designer matches and cost estimates. Beyond matchmaking, SIXiDES offers 3D rendering, project management tools, and industry collaborations to promote sustainable, needs-first design; and by merging technology and empathy, SIXiDES is redefining home renovation in Singapore. On the Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Astley Ng, CEO & Founder, SIXiDES, to share 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!

From a metal shop to an automotive giant – we’re going to go on an adventure today, to look at how carmaker Peugeot made history in the 21st century, and how it intends to charge ahead.  Founded in 1810 in the midst of the industrial revolution by Jean-Frederic and Jean-Pierre II Peugeot, the company came about when the Peugeot family transformed its hydraulic mill into a steel mill.  With the steel mill, various branches of the family started expanding into manufacturing to produce a wide range of products, all based on steel.  Think along the lines of tools, springs, umbrellas, whales, corset frames, watch pieces, bicycles and more. Years went by, and then came a family member called Armand Peugeot who is crucial to the entire story.  As someone who was fascinated by engineering, Armand Peugeot came up with the first Peugeot-branded automotive vehicle in 1889, a steam-driven, non-commercialised 3-wheeler. That sowed the seeds for the modern day Peugeot. In 2021, Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobile merged to form Stellantis, becoming the world’s third largest automaker by vehicle sales. Today, Peugeot is said to offer the widest electric vehicle line-up of any European mainstream brand, covering all needs from urban cars to commercial vehicles.  But how has Peugeot’s positioning changed over the centuries, particularly post merger? Also – how is Peugeot as a brand doubling down on the electrification trend, especially with the discontinuation of its 508 model to make way for EVs?  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Linda Jackson, (then) CEO, Peugeot. ************ Additional Note: Shortly after the Part 1 of the interview went out, Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, announced a series of changes to its top leadership, including at Peugeot.  As part of the changes, Alain Favey was announced as the new CEO of Peugeot, taking over from Linda (Jackson) who has retired after 20 years with the company. It's been a privilege to speak with Linda in one of her last interviews with the media in her capacity at Peugeot, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavour. *************

Cryptocurrency adoption is surging in Asia-Pacific (APAC), with retail investors outpacing those in the US and Europe in Bitcoin trading. According to Gemini’s latest report, Bitcoin’s retail trading in APAC grew 6.4% year-on-year in January 2024, highlighting the region’s growing influence in the crypto market. And beyond Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) are seeing strong capital inflows, with Solana emerging as one of the fastest-growing blockchain ecosystems. So as crypto adoption accelerates, key questions arise: What’s fuelling this growth? And what’s next for the industry? On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kunal Chowdhury, CEO of Apollo Investments Singapore, to find out.

For many women in their late 30s and 40s, perimenopause can feel like a confusing and unpredictable journey. With no clear diagnostic test, most only realise they’ve reached menopause after a full year without a period, leaving them to navigate fluctuating hormones and symptoms without much clarity. Prelude Health, a Singapore-based startup, is changing that with Hormony, an at-home saliva test designed to help women track and manage hormonal changes during perimenopause by monitoring cortisol levels - a key hormone that fluctuates during this stage. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Mayra Hurtado,Founder, Prelude Health, to share more.

Raising a child in Singapore comes with significant financial considerations. With the total cost of raising a child estimated at over $220,000 by the time they turn 18, many parents are left wondering how to navigate these expenses. While government subsidies offer some relief, parents still face ongoing costs that can vary depending on lifestyle choices, education options, and childcare needs. On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Marlina Kwok, Retirement Specialist, IPP Financial Advisers and Kelly Ang, Full-time mom and part-time freelance writer, to find out whether raising a child in Singapore is a luxury or not.   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!

Singapore shares began the day trading in positive territory as markets abroad mostly closed higher.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.1 per cent at 3,835.89 points after 29.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch today, we have ST Engineering, after the technology and engineering group announced yesterday that it secured S$4.3 billion in new contracts in the fourth quarter of 2024. Elsewhere, from what to expect ahead of the much anticipated US non farm payrolls report, to how gold is set to register its sixth successive weekly gain, more international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.