Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

From humans doing math by hand for NASA to waking people up by shooting peas at their windows, some jobs from history are so bizarre they sound made up, but they actually existed. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh take you on a wild ride through the strangest jobs that have officially gone extinct, including pinsetters, leech collectors, and even royal shoe testers. And if that wasn’t enough, they meet the internet’s newest superstar: a 10-day-old lamb from China that plays dead on cue; so convincingly that people have offered $24,000 just to take it home. Yes, this drama queen of the animal world has captured hearts, gone viral, and turned the local market into a spectacle.

Singapore shares nudged higher today as investors mull the US Federal Reserve’s move to hold interest rates as expected. The Straits Times Index was up 0.15% at 4,916.55 points at 1.31pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$918.03M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Sembcorp Industries, after the company said yesterday that its wholly owned subsidiary Sembcorp Power will supply memory chip giant Micron with an additional 150 megawatts of power to support a new Woodlands plant in capturing artificial intelligence demand.  Elsewhere from how investors are making sense of earnings out of Microsoft and Meta, to how June is seen as the next likely window for a Federal Reserve rate cut, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck, how a report by The Information revealed that NVIDIA, Amazon and Microsoft are in talks to invest up to US$60 billion in OpenAI. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital.

We’re going to talk all about a hotpot ingredient that is sure to be on your reunion dinner table on Chinese New Year eve – the humble, inexpensive, yet comforting fishball that completes the meal. Speaking of fishballs, one must talk about Thong Siek Food Global, who’s also better known as the parent company of Dodo fishballs. Founded in 1976 as a family run backyard operation, Thong Siek Food Global has since evolved into a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of surimi (or minced fish paste) based seafood products in Singapore. At its factory in Senoko spanning over 150,000 square feet, Thong Siek Global processes well over 28,000 kg of fish meat daily and more than 60 varieties of fish-based products including fishballs, prawn balls, cuttle fish balls and crab flavoured sticks. These are exported to markets across Europe and Southeast Asia as well as the US, Canada, Dubai, Qatar, Australia and more. But how is Thong Siek Global positioning its supply chain to grow internationally? Which are the key global markets for the firm? Also – what are the key product trends that Thong Siek Global is tapping to relate with next generation consumers?  In this Special, “On the Go” episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to Thong Siek Food Global’s factory floor to seek some answers from Novelle Lim, CEO of Thong Siek Global and Fayy Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Thong Siek Global.

Gen Z has officially retired the term 'Karen', the infamous label for entitled or rude behavior, and crowned this new name as its modern replacement. For Millennials, many of whom are now entering the 'prime Karen age', this shift hits close to home.  Meanwhile, the Doomsday Clock now sits at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest humanity has ever come to potential nuclear, climate, or biological disaster. What does it mean, and what can we do to turn back time? On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh break down viral memes to global existential threats.

Divorce is never just a legal process, and when infidelity is involved, it can raise painful questions about trust, fairness, and financial security. In Singapore, divorces and annulments rose to more than 7,300 in 2024, even as marriages fell. Many of these breakups happen after more than a decade together, when couples have already built shared lives and finances. So what does infidelity actually mean under Singapore law? How hard is it to prove, and does it affect financial outcomes or legal protections? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Justin Chan, Managing Partner at Justin Chan Chambers LLP, to find out more. 

Whisky investment is increasingly viewed as a long-term, scarcity-driven asset, supported by premiumisation and structurally limited supply. As demand expands beyond traditional whisky markets, Asia has become a central focus for investors. In Asia, China plays a growing role in shaping demand dynamics, influencing everything from consumption patterns to investment timelines, and adding a new dimension to how global whisky portfolios are constructed. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong sits down with Jason Chong, Director of Business Development at Whisky Cask Club, to explore how Asia is driving global whisky demand and what investors need to know to navigate this fast-growing market.

Singapore shares fell today after crossing the 4,900 mark yesterday. The Straits Times Index was down 0.42% at 4,902.23 points at 2.18pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.09B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have ST Engineering, after the group announced today that its total contract awards for 2025 reached a record S$18.7 billion, exceeding the S$12.6 billion total in 2024 by about 49 per cent.  Elsewhere, from how gold broke through US$5,200 for the first time today, to how China has reportedly approved its first batch of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips for import, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kenneth Goh, Director, Private Wealth Management, UOB Kay Hian.

More Singaporeans are set to get a bigger boost to their retirement and healthcare savings. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Manpower, and the CPF Board announced that the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme will cover more Singaporeans, with the government providing matching contributions for CPF top-ups. In addition, a new Matched MediSave Scheme is being introduced as a five-year pilot, helping around 185,000 older Singaporeans with lower MediSave balances. How do these schemes work? Who stands to gain the most, and who might still miss out? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Lena Teng, Learning & Development and CPF Specialist at Providend, to break it all down.

The gemstone market is gaining renewed attention as investors increasingly look beyond traditional financial instruments in search of scarcity, resilience, and long-term value. Specifically in the UK, demand for gemstones is projected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2026, with London continuing to play a central role as a global hub for gemstone trading, auctions, and certification, shaping pricing and investment trends worldwide. And as interest grows, investors are increasingly focused on whether gemstones can function as credible investment assets rather than purely luxury goods. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Danilo Giannoni, Founder & Director, Arte Oro, to explore the investment case for gemstones, the risks involved, and what this market means for investors globally.

Which internet mood meme are you today - the “Nihilist Penguin” who just wants to walk away from it all or the daredevil who climbs Taipei 101 without a rope? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada break down two internet moods: the “Nihilist Penguin” meme and Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 free solo climb. They explore how a penguin walking toward its own death became a symbol of modern anxiety and quiet quitting  and why audiences are equally captivated by a man scaling a 508-metre skyscraper without safety gear.