Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Tapping emerging opportunities in the maritime industry – that is what we’re going to talk about today. Founded in Norway in 1861, our guest is the corporate investment arm of Wilhelmsen. Wilhelmsen, for context, has one of the world’s largest maritime networks on call 24/7 to provide essential products and services to the merchant fleet.  With thousands of employees spread across close to 60 countries, the company is said to supply crew and technical management to the largest and most complex vessels ever to sail.  But perhaps what is more exciting about this century old global maritime industry group is how it is leveraging the startup ecosystem to sieve out new opportunities and pockets of growth. For one thing, Wilhelmsen came up with a joint venture with German engineering firm thyssenkrupp called Pelagus 3D to use 3D printing technologies to make custom, standard and obsolete spare parts on-demand.  The question is – how far will corporate venture initiatives help position the firm for future, and ride the wave of the transforming maritime industry? Meanwhile, Singapore had in 2021 set out its ambitions to make the country the Silicon Valley of maritime technology, raising its 2025 target for the number of maritime startups up from 100 to 150.  So what opportunities does the geographical market present for old-timers and legacy firms like Wilhelmsen? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Nakul Malhotra, Vice President, Emerging Opportunities Portfolio, Maritime Services, Wilhelmsen.

Have you ever seen a wayang performance, or street opera, before? If not, there's an iconic play in town called Titoudaothat might be the perfect introduction to this traditional art form. First staged in 1994, Titoudao returns for its 30th anniversary, captivating audiences with its rich storytelling and cultural significance. On Culture Club, Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Goh Boon Teck, Playwright, Director & Designer, Titoudao, Chief Artistic Director, Toy Factory Productions, and Tan Rui Shan, Lead Actress, Titoudao, to share more about the challenges of bringing this story to life, and the exciting elements of the 30th-anniversary staging.

On What's Trending, Joe Biden's health has been a topic of debate following the June 27th presidential debate. There has been a heated exchange between Biden's press secretary and journalists about the visit of a Parkinson's disease specialist to the White House.  Also, a sauna cabin outside a HDB flat has sparked a heated debate among netizens, raising questions about the allowed items in common spaces of HDB blocks. The cabin, which appears to be no longer in use, is surrounded by over 40 potted plants, cabinets, bicycles, and a sofa.

The famous Actor, Alec Baldwin, who is 66 years old now, faces an involuntary manslaughter charge, which he denies, in the October 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. A jury has been picked to hear the trial of Alec Baldwin for a fatal shooting on a film set in New Mexico. Hongbin Jeong, Roshan Gidwani and Chua Tian Tian spill the tea!  Get in touch with our anchors at  rgidwani@sph.com.sg, chuatt@sph.com.sg and hongbin@sph.com.sg.   

The Singapore Aquatics has recently been in the headlines for the shock omission of 3-time Olympian Quah Ting Wen from it’s swimming contingent heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Described by some as a ‘baffling and confusing’ decision, just how and why did it amount to this for the 31-year old - who up until 5th July 2024 was expecting to be on the plane to Paris? Ting Wen herself joins us on Sports Minutes to clarify the ifs, buts and hows.  READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singaporean-swimmer-quah-ting-wen-fails-in-appeal-for-paris-olympics Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

Dr. SM Yuen, a Derma-Regeneration Aesthetics medical doctor, has been passionate about art toys and brick art since childhood. He grew up with Lego and enjoys alternate builds and own creations. He moved his clinic to Suntec City and uses popmart art toys as color pops and accents, creating a modern, chic, and zen environment for patients. He currently owns 15 larger popmart art toys and 400% Space Molly designs. On R.I.C.H., Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Dr SM Yuen, Medical Director, Atlas Medical Derma-Regen Clinic, to share more about his collection. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Singapore stocks extended the previous day’s rally to open higher today, following a mixed overnight performance in global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.3 per cent to 3,434.74 points after 32.4 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Yoma Strategic, after the Myanmar-focused company today clarified that no charges have been filed against its executive chairman Serge Pun.  Elsewhere, from Sats restructuring its gateway services business to Beijing’s stance on robotaxis and the country’s inflation numbers – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus. Also on deck – Tesla and Cathie Wood. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Carl Ashton, Investment Counselor, Citi Private Bank.

On What’s Trending, a study by Bristol University suggests that regular saving can improve sleep and life satisfaction, even if only a small amount is set aside. The research, which found that a quarter of UK adults have savings of less than 100 pounds, suggests that regular savers on low incomes have similar life satisfaction levels as richer non-savers. The study also found that regular savers on low incomes have similar life satisfaction levels as richer non-savers.  Also, Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) has expanded its contestant pool to include all Singapore citizens, regardless of marital status or children. The competition is now open to all Singaporeans, regardless of marital status or children. However, contestants must be at least 18 years old, based in Singapore, and have been residing in the country for at least six months before September 1, 2024. The top prize is $10,000, and the winner will represent Singapore at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico in September. The Miss Universe Organisation has removed the upper age limit from 2024.

Clinton's a clown! The singer, has an Australian accent apparently. Is he from Australia? Did multiple family members of his pass on? His ex-girlfriend spilled the tea about their relationship as did Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani about the singer himself and his antics.  Get in touch with our anchors at  rgidwani@sph.com.sg, chuatt@sph.com.sg and hongbin@sph.com.sg.   

We’re going to talk all about bathroom and kitchen fixtures today. Now, the next time you visit the bathroom, take a look at the brand of the sinks and toilets.  Chances are – they’re of the American Standard and Grohe brands. But did you know that they are all part of a leading Japanese home and water products giant called LIXIL?  Born in 2011 through a merger of five of Japan’s most successful building materials and housing companies, LIXIL makes pioneering water and housing products with the aim of making better homes a reality for everyone everywhere.  Just to give you a sense of the company’s scale, LIXIL has approximately 60,000 employees in over 150 countries around the globe, having expanded to international markets through the acquisition of North American plumbing fixtures maker American Standard and German manufacturer Grohe. Its reach – a whopping one billion people each day through its portfolio of 15 product brands.  This is no surprise given the size of the global plumbing fixtures market, with Precedence Research valuing it at US$90.11 billion in 2023. That figure is expected to reach US$140.21 billion by 2033, translating into a CAGR of 4.52% from 2024 to 2033. But what is LIXIL’s assessment of the market and what will be the key drivers of growth?  Meanwhile, makers of building fixtures appear to be weighed down by lower home sales amid elevated global interest rates, as well as a property slump in markets such as China in the near term.  But how does LIXIL intend to navigate this, and how far will Singapore act as a buffer against short-term volatilities for LIXIL? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Koh FuSheng, Leader, Singapore, LIXIL Water Technology APAC.