Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Using the power of machine learning to help companies optimise the Return on Investment of their digital marketing strategies – that’s what we are talking about today.  Founded in 2013 by a group of former Google engineers, our guest is Silicon Valley based ad-tech unicorn Moloco. The company offers performance marketing solutions that help businesses maximise their advertising spend on mobile apps.  For one thing, Moloco’s demand side platform allows advertisers to purchase targeted ads on over 2 million apps automatically using a machine powered system, diversifying beyond the big players like Google and Meta. Aside from helping individual advertisers place their ads and improve the outcomes of their media campaigns, Moloco also helps companies like online marketplaces build their own advertising business.  This is done by automatically assigning personalised ads based on real time user activity, with the ability to serve 20,000 advertisers in a day. More recently, the firm also came out with an advertising solution for Over the Top (OTT) and streaming businesses to set up their own advertising business focused on outcomes.  The company had in July last year welcomed Fidelity Management & Research Company and Singapore’s EDBI as its shareholders through secondary share transactions.  The transactions put Moloco at a whopping US$2 billion, 40 per cent higher than its valuation of US$1.5 billion in a 2021 Series C round. But what were the drivers behind the big numbers?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Nikhil Raj, Chief Business Officer of Retail Media, Moloco.

What defines an all-time great? Trophies? Goals? Clean sheets? Well in conjunction with the Football Association of Singapore, Sports Minutes conducted a special contest to garner the peoples' choice when it comes to that age old question....Who is your all-time favourite footballer? Tune in as we take a trip down memory lane!  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

According to a report by LinkedIn - skills needed for a job here will change by a whopping 72% by 2030 as a result of greater AI adoption among businesses.  To keep up with the trend, 92% of businesses are planning to focus on improving employees’ skills this year, while nearly half are looking to provide online training and development programs. While the SkillsFuture scheme expands to better equip Singaporeans (especially those over 40), the new top-ups are focused on selected programs and uptake in recent years remains low. So, how can Singaporeans take better control of their learning and employment prospects to keep up with the ever changing jobs market? ?  Suvig Sharma, Area Vice-President ASEAN, Confluent shares more. 

From Catherine, Princess of Wales photo controversy to who will be Ireland’s next leader after Leo Varadkar stepped down.  Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific weighs in. 

Singapore shares rose at the opening bell this morning, following mixed results in global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.6 per cent to 3,197.77 points after 49.5 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Olam Group. Its indirect 64.57 per cent-owned subsidiary, Olam Agri, has launched a non-binding indicative offer to acquire all shares in Australian cotton ginning company Namoi Cotton for some A$122 million (S$107.8 million).  Elsewhere from the US Federal Reserve sticking to its earlier projection of three rate cuts this year and comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell on whether a strong labour market could derail its plans to cut rates, more international headlines are in focus. Also on deck, fashionistas suing luxury brand Hermes for not selling them the iconic Birkin handbag without buying scarves, shoes and belts! On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital.

Having struggled for game time with his club side, Ilhan Fandi is relishing being back in the Lions' den. Under the tutelage of new head coach Tsutomu Ogura, there is renewed optimism ahead of Singapore's crucial WCQ clash against China. Will the off-pitch optimism equate to an uptick in on-pitch fortunes? Ilhan Fandi is certainly bullish as he spills the beans on Sports Minutes. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. But as Singaporean homes shrink every decade, how do you find the right balance between having a place that's functional but also a reflection of your personality? Because the reality is this: spending more on renovations doesn't always mean a better outcome for the average Singaporean homeowner. So, is your kitchen renovation a good investment or a waste of money?  Xin Lin Woo, Brand Manager and Founding Member of FURNIC weighs in.

Singapore equities advanced at the opening bell this morning, mirroring overnight gains on global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent to 3,180.94 points after 84.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have CapitaLand Investment. The asset manager has raised one billion yuan (S$187.1 million) from its inaugural sustainability-linked “panda” bond, which comes with a three-year tenor and a fixed coupon rate of 3.5 per cent per annum.  Elsewhere from how markets are reacting ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision, and the odds of the Fed still expecting three rate cuts this year – more international headlines are in focus.  Also on deck – Chinese banks maintaining their benchmark lending rates after the central bank’s recent decision to stand pat on monetary policy.  On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Carl Ashton, Investment Counselor, Citi Private Bank.

It is obvious that cybersecurity is a fast-growing issue in today’s digital world. While it may not always be obvious, cyber attackers are constantly evolving their approach to penetrate the computer systems of enterprises and individuals alike. Our guest has spent his career focused on the greatest threats to the US National Security, including weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and global infectious disease but now he is in the world of cyber security.  Jeffrey Engle, Head of Product, BlueVoyant & President, Conquest Cyber shares personal experience and the biggest cybersecurity challenges for Asia’s business leaders today. 

From Malaysia' finance ministry calling for a "Malaysia First" approach to strengthen their ringgit to Thailand wanting to ban recreational marijuana with a new cannabis bill.  Nicholas Fang, Managing Director, Black Dot and Director for Security and Global Affairs, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more.