Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Over 70% of Singaporeans have yet to use their one-off $500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up, which will expire at the end of this year. That’s a missed opportunity, especially at a time when Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the job market. With the government urging workers to become more AI-fluent and employers increasingly valuing digital skills, many are now asking: how can Singaporeans make full use of their SkillsFuture Credit,  and invest it in something that truly future-proofs their careers? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with John Amos Tan, Generative AI Instructor at Vertical Institute, to find out more. 

K-beauty isn’t just a global trend, it’s shaping the way private equity invests. With giants like Blackstone and KKR snapping up brands and suppliers, the sector is transforming private markets, proving that skincare and cosmetics can be serious business for investors seeking growth and global reach. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Wong Chia Peck, Senior Correspondent, The Business Times, to find out more.

Nicholas Cheng founded VideoPulse, a creative studio built for tech companies that helps turn complex products into clear, story-led videos. What started as a passion for visual storytelling has grown into a system trusted by global teams at DocuSign, Samsung, HP, and YC startups. He also leads Tracework.ai, a GenAI-powered workflow platform backed by Microsoft GenAI and NUS Enterprise. Tracework helps teams capture their expertise and transform repetitive know-how into scalable, easy-to-follow guides. At the intersection of storytelling, design, and AI, Nicholas is rethinking how technology teams communicate, turning ideas into stories and knowledge into systems that actually work. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong spoke to Nicholas Cheng, Founder of VideoPulse and Tracework.ai, to find out more.

Singapore shares slid today as investors continue to monitor renewed US-China trade fears. The Straits Times Index was down 0.57% at 4,364.69 points at 1.59pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.03B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Mapletree Logistics Trust, after the manager of Mapletree Logistics Trust yesterday announced that it had completed the divestment of an Australian property for A$60 million (S$50.4 million). Meanwhile, from how the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) kept monetary policy settings unchanged for the second consecutive time in today’s quarterly policy meeting, to how silver prices touched an all-time high above US$52.50 an ounce, more economic headlines remained in focus On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Abhilash Narayan, Investment Strategist, HSBC Global Private Banking and Premier Wealth.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that “the war in Gaza is over.” His statement follows a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, one that’s held for several days now and includes the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The agreement also outlines plans for what Trump has called a “Board of Peace”-  a body meant to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and long-term stability. But questions remain: How lasting is this ceasefire? Do all sides truly see the war as over? And what comes next for the people and politics of Gaza after months of devastation? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Jessica Genauer, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Flinders University, to find out more.

Across Asia, a new wave of collectors in their 30s is turning wine into more than just a drink, it’s becoming an investment. But what makes a bottle worth holding  or selling, years down the line? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Victor Choy, Executive Director of K Cellars and certified sommelier, to find out more. 

We’re surrounded by beautiful campaigns. They’re fast, efficient, and algorithmically approved. But sometimes, even the most flawless work leaves us feeling… nothing. Elyssa Ng has spent years inside that tension, where creative intuition meets automation. As Co-Founder and Creative Director of Kredence Creative Solutions, she’s asking a tougher question: If machines can already make what “works,” what does it take to make something that matters? On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Elyssa Ng, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Kredence Creative Solutions, to find out more. 

Singapore shares slipped today to track declines seen in Asia. The Straits Times Index was down 1.2% at 4,373.88 points at 2.20pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.18B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have UOL and Singapore Land Group, after the 666-unit condominium Skye at Holland proved to be the strongest project launch in 2025, selling 98.8 per cent of units over the weekend.  Elsewhere, from how shares of mainboard-listed InnoTek rallied on the back of order wins for Nvidia and Shenzhen-listed IEIT Systems, to how US-China trade frictions sent Asian currencies to a five-month low, 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.

A painful night. A long flight. And now, a do-or-die showdown in Goa. Ilhan Fandi speaks exclusively to Sports Minutes on bouncing back from late heartbreak last time out, finding belief and his scoring touch, and chasing history for Singapore - ahead of the Lions' clash against India on Tuesday, 14th October. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

In light of recent cases, the bystander effect has once again captured public attention. A child wanders alone through a busy MRT station. A man collapses on the street. At Singapore Management University, a video went viral showing a woman kicking another woman on the ground, and bystanders watching, hesitating to intervene. Dozens of people see, yet no one moves. And even if the cameras are raised, eyes dart away, and the crowd waits for someone else to act. Psychologists call this the bystander effect, the phenomenon where the more people present, the less likely anyone is to help. But does the bystander effect reveal a lack of empathy? Or is it simply a human instinct to freeze in uncertainty, even when we care? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Annabelle Chow, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Annabelle Psychology and Dr Razwana Begum, Head of Public Safety and Security Programme, Singapore University of Social Sciences, to find out.