Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The US could soon ask travellers, including those from Singapore, to share up to five years of social media history as part of immigration checks. Is this a step toward national security or an overreach that will make travel more complicated and intrusive? On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks with Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific to break down the motivations behind the policy, the pushback it’s facing, and what it could mean for anyone planning to visit America.

Emerging market bonds are stealing the spotlight in global fixed income this year. With local-currency debt up nearly 14% and hard-currency debt climbing 8.7% by August 2025, investors are asking: how can EM bonds strengthen your portfolio? From managing currency and credit risks to spotting the regions offering the best risk-adjusted returns, we break down what’s driving the EM bond story today. On Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks to Leonard Kwan, Portfolio Manager for the T. Rowe Price Dynamic Emerging Markets Bond Strategy to find out more. 

Finding the perfect engagement ring is often seen as a milestone, but for many couples, the process can feel overwhelming or disconnected from the love it’s meant to celebrate. Cherish & Co is a bespoke jewelry studio redefining what an engagement ring experience can look like. From transforming your love story into a meaningful design to creating pieces that are deeply personal and symbolic, Cherish & Co shows how the right ring can be more than just a symbol. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Jovial Victoria, Founder of Cherish & Co. Bespoke Diamonds, to explore a quiet revolution in the world of jewelry, where intentionality, personal storytelling, and ethical craftsmanship take center stage.

Singapore shares rose today, tracking gains seen across Asian markets. The Straits Times Index was up 1.26% at 4,577.92 points at 1.15pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$816.74M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have CDL, UOL, and GuocoLand, after DBS Research took a bullish stance on Singapore property counters, initiating a sector-wide lift in its target prices for developers including CDL, UOL and GuocoLand.  Elsewhere from how earnings from chip titan Broadcom failed to meet investors’ lofty expectations, to higher than expected initial jobless claims numbers out of the US, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck, how Lululemon Athletica said its CEO Calvin McDonald was leaving the company without a replacement. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeremy Tan, CEO, Tiger Fund Management.

What if you could give someone a song made just for them, a melody that tells their story, captures their emotions, and celebrates their journey? Lyrica Song Gift, is Singapore’s first and only company creating personalised songs for weddings, branding, and life’s most meaningful moments. Every lyric and melody becomes a musical keepsake, turning memories into a gift that no traditional present could ever match. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Ray Zhang, Producer of Lyrica Song Gift, to find out how he transforms ordinary moments into unforgettable music.

Singapore’s latest job figures show signs of strain. Retrenchments edged up in the third quarter, job vacancies continued to fall, and more firms are planning layoffs. That’s all according to the Ministry of Manpower’s third quarter labour report released earlier today. At the same time, overall employment is still growing and there are still more job openings than unemployed persons, but the gap is closing. Workers are staying put, companies are cautious, and the labour market is clearly cooling. So what’s really driving these shifts? And should workers be bracing for a tougher 2026? On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks with Ives Tay, Independent Workforce Development Consultant, as he helps us make sense of these trends and what they mean for Singaporeans heading into the new year.

Singapore is quietly becoming a regional crypto hub, with 61% of Singaporeans now holding digital assets, evidence that crypto is moving beyond a niche hobby into mainstream retail finance. On Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks with Rohith Murthy, CEO of MoneyHero to unpack findings from the Pulse of Crypto Singapore 2025 report, exploring rising ownership, cautious allocations, and the surprising influence of social media on crypto investors.

Singapore shares inched higher today on a mixed day for Asian equities.  The Straits Times Index was up 0.36% at 4,527.94 points at 2.38pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$669.01M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust, after its manager announced yesterday that its subsidiary – Festival Walk – will sell Festival Walk Tower at nearly HK$2 billion (S$328.1 million) to an unrelated third party.  Elsewhere, from how the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 25 basis points as expected, but with more dissenters this time around, to Grab Vietnam’s partnership with Charge+ to accelerate the development of a nationwide EV charging network in the country – more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital.

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake recently struck north-eastern Japan, injuring dozens and forcing nearly 90,000 people to evacuate. While tsunami warnings have been lifted, experts warn there’s still a small but real risk of another major quake. With thousands of Singaporeans planning year-end trips to Japan, what should travellers know? On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks with Dr Nawaz Mian, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography at the National University of Singapore, as hehelps us understand the latest quake, the potential risks ahead, and what it means for those visiting Japan.

Rebee Health is a Singapore-based health-tech startup dedicated to making physiotherapy more accessible, effective, and personalised. By combining wearable sensors, an intuitive mobile app, and a clinician portal, Rebee empowers patients to recover safely at home while giving physiotherapists real-time insights into progress and performance. Designed for people dealing with musculoskeletal pain, post-surgery rehab, or mobility issues, Rebee helps patients stay consistent, confident, and connected throughout their recovery journey. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Lincoln Dacy, Founder and CEO of Rebee Health, to find out more.