Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

 How big is the gaming market here in Singapore? Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific’s latest research titled ‘Unlocking Gamers in Asia Pacific’ has found that not all Singaporean gamers identify with the label ‘gamer’. But despite that, Singaporean gamers have a high propensity to spend, with 56 percent spending approximately $14 and above in a month on games, surpassing the APAC average of 49 percent. Anna Lissa Bantigue, Insights and Enablement Manager, Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific tells us more about the findings from this study. 

And it's all about China’s recently concluded ‘Two Sessions’ in this edition of China Perspective. Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us his analysis of this year’s conference. 

The banking sector is in focus as we speak to Singapore’s largest foreign bank serving some 900,000 retail customers in the lion city.  Yes – we’re going to talk about Standard Chartered Bank. Founded over 160 years ago, the bank currently has a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serves clients in a further 64.   The bank opened its first branch in 1859 in Singapore, and became one of the first international banks to receive a Qualifying Full Bank licence in 1999.  Fast forward to 2022, the firm launched its digital bank venture Trust Bank in partnership with FairPrice Group, to drive digitalisation in the industry.  The firm had in late February announced an 18 per cent increase in pre-tax profit. It also laid out its expectations for the coming years, projecting income to grow 5 to 7 per cent between 2024 and 2026, down from the 10 per cent seen in 2023.  But how far is this driven by its business within ASEAN markets, and how far will its digital bank venture contribute to top and bottom line growth? And with the US Federal Reserve widely expected to cut interest rates this year, what will net interest margins look like for Standard Chartered, and how does it intend to get around lower NIMs? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Patrick Lee, Cluster CEO, Singapore & ASEAN Markets, Standard Chartered Bank. 

US President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address last week, one that could be among the most important speeches he gives during his presidency as he turns toward reelection. What were the biggest takeaways? Are Democrats fired up after President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address? Trisha Craig, Vice President (Engagement) and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Sociology and Political Science), Yale-NUS College weighs in.

E-commerce entrepreneurs in Singapore contributed nearly $2 billion to the country's GDP and $1.18b in exports in 2022; a clear indication that the spirit of entrepreneurship can thrive with the right capabilities.  But what’s the perfect recipe to create successful e-commerce and succeed in the online market world? Bharati Balakrishnan, Country Director, SEA & India, Shopify weighs in.

Women still only account for around 26% of people working in IT today, according to research conducted by Women in Tech. Whilst this is an improvement from the figure of 19% in 2019, work is still needed to reach gender equality. How can we shift the dial on inclusion through inspiration? Melissa Kee, Chief People Officer, Temus weighs in. 

The Premier League's recent history has been defined by the managerial rivalry between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. And if this was its final chapter, then Liverpool and Manchester City closed the book in fitting fashion with an Anfield classic in a pulsating 1-1 draw. With the three-way title fight well and truly on, who has the edge? We discuss! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore equities were pulled into negative territory this morning after global equities ended the prior week mixed. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.1 per cent to 3,144.61 points after 23.4 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Japfa after the agri-food company today refused to comment on speculations about a privatisation deal in a Mar 8 Bloomberg article.  Meanwhile, from more on Singapore’s local business sentiment to Chinese regulators asking large banks to support property developer Vanke, more local and international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Chong Ser Jing, Co-founder and Portfolio Manager, Compounder Fund.

Paul Pogba has been banned for four years for charges of doping. And that got us thinking...who else joins the enigmatic frenchman as footballers who failed to follow through on their promise? We check in with the fans to discuss the 'what could have been' tales of some of football's brightest talents! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Looking for authentic German food in Singapore? Look no further, because you can finally get your fix at Berlin65. Only a few months old, Berlin65 is a casual eatery on Stanley Street which pays homage to the melting-pot cuisine of a city that’s famously edgy, artsy, and colourfully multicultural, with Turkish and Vietnamese cooking being a big part of it. Stephan Zoisl, Director, Chef and Founder, Berlin65 and Lorenz Raich, Chef and Co-Founder, Berlin65 share more.