Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

With schools set to reopen in the new year, so are the sniffles, coughs, and fevers. But are you really protecting your kids, or just going through the motions?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong busts common myths about infections, from hand sanitisers to vitamins, and showing what actually works to keep your family safe.

Singapore shares were little moved today as investors kicked off the last trading week of 2025. The Straits Times Index was up 0.04% at 4,638.14 points at 2.47pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$423.31M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel and Keppel DC Reit. That's after the two entities said on Dec 26 that the authorities have conditionally green-lit a 10-year lease extension for Keppel Data Centre Campus, which is owned by a Keppel-led joint venture (JV).  Elsewhere, from how China is about to start paying interest on its official digital currency, to how Bitcoin rose in Asia trading to top US$90,000, more international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the key developments to watch for the day.

We’re looking back at a big one for Singapore - the Singapore dollar. How did it really perform in 2025, what shaped its moves, and what should we be watching as we head into a brand-new year? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sim Moh Siong, Currency Strategist at Bank of Singapore, to break it all down.

From K-pop drama to everyday struggles and holiday surprises, today’s stories have us talking. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into how NewJeans member Danielle Marsh was dropped by her agency ADOR after a year of legal battles, injunctions, and public disputes.. Next, in Singapore, a viral TikTok sparked debate over whether the monthly $750 allowance for full-time national servicemen is enough in today’s economy. And finally, wedding season brings its own eyebrow-raising moments: a Hong Kong netizen was invited to a classmate’s wedding after 10 years, only to receive a pricey wish list of appliances and electronics, and discover they were invited just for the ceremony, with no banquet.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been found guilty of abuse of power in the biggest trial yet to emerge from the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. He was charged with four counts of corruption and 21 counts of money laundering over the alleged illegal transfer of about RM2.2 billion from the state fund. What does this verdict now mean for Najib’s remaining political influence? And how could it shape Malaysia’s political landscape under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, to analyse the ruling and what it means for Malaysia’s political future.

Singapore shares dipped today with investors now back from the Christmas Day holiday. The Straits Times Index was down 0.06% at 4,633.73 points at 2.42pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$426.90M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Sembcorp Industries, after Sembcorp Green Infra, an Indian unit of Sembcorp Industries, today completed the acquisition of a 100 per cent stake in solar power company ReNew Sun Bright for about S$246 million.  Elsewhere, from how Singapore’s factory output jumped 14.3 per cent year on year in November, to how Japan’s industry ministry is set to nearly quadruple its budgeted support for cutting-edge semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) development to about 1.2 trillion yen (S$9.9 billion) for the fiscal year starting in April, more economic and international headlines remained 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.

Tokenised funds are emerging as one of the most exciting developments in asset management, promising new ways to structure, access, and scale investments. Yet adoption has been cautious, with regulatory frameworks still evolving. Singapore’s Project Guardian has just released a playbook for operationalising tokenised funds, covering everything from digital-native fund structures to the use of stablecoins and wholesale CBDCs for settlements. Could tokenised funds be the next major shift in investing? And as blockchain and digital assets increasingly intersect with traditional finance, how can investors distinguish real opportunities from hype? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Danny Chong, Co-Chairman of the Digital Assets Association Singapore, to break down what this means for the future of investment.

On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada started with a viral grandmother who refused to buy Christmas presents for her grandchildren, choosing instead to invest money for their future. That theme carried into the workplace, where YouTuber Cleetus McFarland surprised his 20 employees with quirky Christmas bonuses, $3,000 mini Jeep-style go-karts, earning praise for creativity and raising the question of whether a memorable gift beats cash. We ended on a more serious note in South Korea, where professors were fined for taking exams on behalf of students to keep a struggling department alive, highlighting how pressure, desperation and good intentions

2025 has been anything but a straight line for Asian currencies. Some have surprised with resilience, others have slid to record lows, all shaped by global volatility, domestic pressures, and a shifting US dollar. From the Indian rupee’s struggles to the Malaysian ringgit’s standout run, it’s been a year of clear winners and losers. So who came out on top, who fell behind, and what does it mean for FX risks and opportunities in the year ahead? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Wee Khoon Chong, APAC Macro Strategist, BNY, to find out more. 

Singapore shares dipped in a shortened trading session today as investors looked ahead to the Christmas Day holiday. The Straits Times Index was down 0.16% at 4,631.39 points at 10.59am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$279.02M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Manulife US Real Estate Investment Trust.  That’s after the Reit’s manager posted an update today that the master restructuring agreement concessions, which include an extension of its asset disposal deadline and temporary relaxation of its financial covenants from Dec 31, 2025, to Jun 30 next year, have been granted.  Elsewhere, from how the US economy expanded at a much faster-than-expected clip in the third quarter, to the elusive Santa Claus rally setting in, more economic and international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeffrey Yap, Regional Head of Wealth Management, Hong Leong Bank.