Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The theme of Budget 2026 is "Securing our future together in a changed world," with key themes including, advancing our refreshed economic strategy, harnessing AI, budding a resilient and skilled workforce, giving families more support and greater assurance, protecting our security and sustainability and renewing and strengthening our Singapore spirit. So what was the tone of this year's budget? On top of this, the annual Budget is also about revising government revenue and expenditure projections for the current financial year, as well as planning ahead for the new financial year. The estimated size of this year’s budget is $154.7 billion, higher than $143.3 billion previously. On Money Matters' Budget 2026 Conversation, Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian speak to Harvey Koenig, Partner, Co-Head of BEPS COE, KPMG, Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University and former Nominated Member of Parliament, and Dr Clara Lee, Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab, National University of Singapore, for a first look at this year's budget and to take a broader look in terms of Singapore’s economic direction and fiscal stance.    

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into China’s “doll mummy” craze where young women treat cotton dolls like real babies, celebrating birthdays, dressing them in designer outfits, and even taking them on holidays. And for football fans, would you refuse a haircut until your team won five games in a row? Manchester United fan Frank Ilett has been doing exactly that for 493 days, turning a viral joke into millions of followers, brand deals, and a fundraising campaign for children with cancer.

Do you invest in what you know - the brands you recognise, the markets you’ve followed for years, the sectors that feel safe? You’re not alone. But today, we’re asking: does familiarity actually make your portfolio safer… or riskier? And how can investors tell when diversification is only superficial? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jason Tan, Portfolio Manager at PhillipCapital, for the latest.

Singapore shares inched higher today to track movements in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.39% at 4,983.73 points at 2.21pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.44B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have CapitaLand Investment, after the real asset manager sank into the red with a net loss of S$142 million for its second half ended Dec 31, 2025, reversing from net profit of S$148 million in the previous corresponding period.  Elsewhere, from a lookahead to Singapore Budget 2026 Statement, to how China’s factory deflation eased more than expected in January, more economic headlines remained in focus.    On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Dan Chang, Investment Specialist and Trading Representative, PhillipCapital.

All eyes will be on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as he delivers the Budget 2026 statement on Feb 12, a roadmap that could shape Singapore’s next phase of growth and support. This year’s Budget is expected to zero in on six key areas: accelerating AI adoption, manpower adjustments, smaller CDC payouts, helping businesses internationalise, clarifying carbon tax plans, and even the possibility of wealth taxes. But which of these will matter most to Singaporeans right now? How different will Budget 2026 look compared to last year’s package? And will it go far enough to tackle long-standing pressures, from cost of living concerns to global economic uncertainty? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Chan Kok Hoe, Senior Lecturer, National University of Singapore, to find out more. 

Singaporeans are earning more than ever, with median household incomes crossing $12,000 a month in 2025. But higher paychecks don’t tell the whole story.Wealth inequality remains much more pronounced, with the richest households holding far more assets than the rest. So what does that really mean for everyday families? Are some people being left behind despite higher wages? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Ee Cheng Ong, Associate Professor, Economics, National University of Singapore, to find out more.

Bitcoin swung wildly this week, dipping as low as $60,033 before bouncing back above $70,000, leaving traders on edge after last week’s roller-coaster moves. Is the original cryptocurrency still a long-term store of value or has it become just another risky asset in global portfolios?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Elbert Iswara, Head of Client Coverage of QCP, to break down what’s driving Bitcoin’s volatility and what it means for investors.

Dating in 2026 has officially gone off the rails. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into China’s bizarre viral trend of referring your exes like job candidates, complete with ‘resumes’, pros and cons, and even user manuals for your former partners.  But it doesn’t stop there. ChatGPT’s caricature trend is taking over social media, with everyone trying it and sometimes roasting themselves in ways they didn’t see coming. From painfully accurate job depictions to absurdly funny life quirks, no one is safe. So, would you trust your ex or let AI spill all your secrets first?

On the local front, UOB takes the spotlight as we review its movements ahead of earnings later this month, alongside OCBC and DBS - the latter having logged two consecutive red sessions following its latest results. From there, we turn to Singapore Airlines, which is also set to report on the 24th of February. SIA has enjoyed a strong run over the past 5-6 days, climbing nearly 5% and breaking out of a W-shaped formation on the charts. With momentum clearly improving, we discuss how the fundamentals stack up too, especially in light of the airline’s recently announced $500 million, 10-year bond issuance. We then shift to Japan, where the Nikkei is staging a powerful bounce following election developments. On Market View, Sean Cheong speaks to Willie Keng, Founder of The Dividend Titan, to discuss the latest market movements.

Thailand’s general election has produced a surprising outcome, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party projected to win around 198 seats, a dramatic increase from the 71 seats it secured in 2023. The result has shaken up the political landscape, leaving the People’s Party and Pheu Thai trailing behind, raising questions about the next government’s formation and priorities. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Professor Purawich Watanasukh, Lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, to unpack these results and explore what they mean for Thailand’s political future.