Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Art has long been valued as both a cultural asset and a store of wealth, yet most artworks are bought once and never resold. As sustainability and alternative investing reshape the art world, ideas like “green-chip art” are gaining traction, promising to unlock hidden value while keeping art in circulation. Is there a real, scalable market for resold art, or are headline sales the exception? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Milon Goh, CEO of Art Again, on whether the secondary art market can change how we collect, invest and think about art.

On Feb 8, Japan will hold a snap election that could reshape the country’s political landscape. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seeking to strengthen her coalition’s hold on power, while a newly reorganized opposition aims to make gains.  So, what’s really at stake in this election? And what could the results mean for the future of Japan’s domestic politics, its economy, and its role on the global stage? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Stephen Nagy, Professor of Politics & International Studies at the International Christian University, Senior fellow and China project lead at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and Visiting Fellow at the Japan Institute for International Affairs. They break down the key dynamics of the election, what to watch on election day, and what the outcome could mean for Japan’s future. The title of Stephen’s forthcoming book is “Japan as a Middle Power State: Navigating Ideological and Systemic Divides.”

Aside from Dubai chocolate, what is Korea’s newest global craze now? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into the surprising rise of Korean gim, the humble dried seaweed snack that’s suddenly become a worldwide obsession. Once an affordable staple in Korean households, gim is now flying off supermarket shelves overseas, pushing prices up so quickly that even longtime vendors in Korea can’t believe what they’re seeing. And in China, one family has taken togetherness to a whole new level by building their very own 15-storey condominium to house more than 100 relatives under one roof.

Singapore shares fell today as investors continue to mull a selloff in US tech stocks overnight. The Straits Times Index dropped 0.7 per cent in the first 30 minutes of trading, with most counters opening in the red.  In terms of counters to watch, we have Nio, after the electric vehicle maker projects to record its first-ever quarterly adjusted operating profit for the quarter ended Dec 31.  Elsewhere, from how US President Donald Trump unveils TrumpRx discounted drugs website and what the move means for major pharmaceutical players, to how Intel and AMD have reportedly notified Chinese customers of supply shortages for server central processing units, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck, how Amazon said it plans to spend US$200 billion this year on data centres, chips and other equipment. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

Lion City Sailors have announced the departure of Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković with immediate effect. Despite 8 wins in 8 league matches, the defending SPL Champions have suffered exits in both continental competitions - which led to increased scrutiny on the head coach. Having taken over the reigns in June 2023, Ranko departs having delivered five major trophies and a fairytale run to the ACL Two final. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

At 30, Amirul Adli chose change. Speaking to Sports Minutes, he explains why he left BG Tampines despite their strong season, how he’s adapting to life in Malaysia, and what pushed him to take this leap. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Asia’s investment landscape is evolving and private credit is at the heart of the change. But how is private credit moving from niche portfolios to a central role in investment strategies? What are the opportunities, risks and potential ripple effects of private credit on Asia’s real economy? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Charis Liau, Chief Investment Officer at IFS Asset Management to dig into the financing challenges faced by SMEs across Southeast Asia, uncover how investors are stepping in where traditional banks hesitate, and discuss whether this trend represents a lasting shift in how capital flows in the region.

Singapore faces a growing challenge in cancer screening, with participation rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers remaining worryingly low. At the same time, cancer diagnoses among younger adults are on the rise, highlighting an urgent need to rethink early detection strategies. And efforts like the launch of RISE (Research Institute for Cancer Prevention, Screening and Early Detection) aim to strengthen research, inform evidence-based policies, and develop strategies to improve early detection. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Professor Ravindran Kanesvaran, Chairman and Senior Consultant of the Division of Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore, and Co-Director of RISE, to explore the barriers to cancer screening in Singapore, the trends shaping cancer incidence in younger adults, and the strategies that could help Singaporeans detect cancer earlier and save lives.

Is cheap petrol across the Causeway really worth the trip or are Singapore drivers risking more than they realise? On this episode of What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Zia-ul Raushan break down the real costs behind JB fuel runs, from toll charges to fines, and why some drivers are still tempted despite the risks. Then, things get competitive: Sports Minutes host Ziaul Raushan is put on the spot in a rapid-fire news quiz. Think you can do better? Join The Straits Times’ What’s The News? competition, a nationwide current affairs challenge for students aged 15 to 19. Stay informed, test your news instincts, and see if you’ve got what it takes to keep up.

Singapore shares dipped today, in line with regional movements.  The Straits Times Index was down 0.24% at 4,953.78 points at 11.54am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$858.58M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel, after the asset manager’s net profit rose 27.2 per cent to S$645.4 million for the second half ended December, from S$507.5 million the year before.  Elsewhere, from how shares of Qualcomm and Arm Holdings fell steeply after the semiconductor companies delivered quarterly reports, to how the Trump administration is reportedly willing to allow China’s ByteDance to buy Nvidia’s H200 chips, more corporate headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck, what we should know about share price movements in AMD and Alphabet overnight. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital.