Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The world’s best Table Tennis stars are coming back to Singapore for the Singapore Smash at Singapore Sports Hub from Thursday 7 to Sunday 17 March. But this year's event will be for more than just lovers of the sport, promises to be bigger and better. Why? We speak to Shaun Nik, Head of Event and Experience at World Table Tennis, to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore shares rose at the opening bell this morning, despite overnight losses in global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.2 per cent to 3,127.49 points after 36.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have City Developments Limited. The property giant is close to sealing a 244 million euro (S$356 million) deal to buy the Hilton Paris Opera hotel from asset management giant Blackstone. Meanwhile from the latest China GDP growth target to investors sentiment on Wall Street ahead of the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony and key jobs openings numbers – more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Carmen Lee, Head of OCBC Investment Research.

Electricity prices are continuing to go up due to rising energy costs, higher carbon tax and the GST hike. And over the years LED lighting technology has achieved new breakthroughs, with ultra energy-efficient bulbs that consume 60 percent less energy than standard LEDs and with a lifespan of 50 years entering the market. So are LED lights a useful investment for one to save cost and conserve energy?  Fabian Choh, Public and Government Affairs Leader (ASEAN), Signify Singapore tells us more. 

From China's annual political conclave kicking off in Beijing to Chinese developer Country Garden facing liquidation petition.  Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

It's getting tight at the top as City closed the gap on pace-setters Liverpool with 3-1 win in the Manchester Derby. We review the 'inevitable' nature of their win, plus the rest of the 'inevitable' subplots that took centre stage this past sporting weekend!  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Financial technology or better known as fintech is used to describe new technology that seeks to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. But from 2018 or so to 2022, there was a shift to consumer-oriented services. fintech now includes different sectors and industries such as education, retail banking. So how can we expect the fintech industry to continue evolving in the near future? Yuval Ziv, President, Nuvei shares his views.

Singapore stocks were pulled into positive territory today after global equities ended the previous week with record gains. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.3 per cent at 3,145.39 points after 34.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Great Eastern and OCBC. That’s with a group of Great Eastern’s minority shareholders proposing to withhold directors’ fees, to change the share option schemes of employees, and to appoint an independent financial adviser.  Elsewhere from China’s Premier Li Qiang being the first premier in three decades to skip holding a National People’s Congress briefing, to Japan’s Nikkei Index surpassing the 40,000 mark for the first time today, more international headlines are in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Meltwater together with  We Are Social  have recently released Digital 2024, their latest annual report on social media and digital trends worldwide. And in spite of Singapore’s high internet penetration and mobile connectivity, internet and social media users, aged 16 to 64, are not glued online as one might assume.  David Hickey, Executive Director, Meltwater (Asia-Pacific) tells us more about the findings from this study and social media's role in our local political scene. 

Radium is an element we see in our periodic tables during chemistry lessons. But did you know that it was once used to make watches for naval divers thanks to its self-luminescence quality?  In fact, one luxury firm used to supply such timepieces to the Italian military back in the early 1900s.  And while Radium was banned in the 1960s due to its radioactive properties, the glow-in-the-dark feature of this company’s watches remains its key selling point up till today.  We’re talking about the Italian watch brand Panerai. Founded in Florence in 1860 as a workshop, shop and subsequently school of watchmaking, Panerai had for many decades supplied the Italian Navy and its specialist diving corp in particular with precision instruments.  At that time, the designs developed by Panerai were covered by the Military Secrets Acts. It stayed that way for many years and the models were only launched on the international market after it was acquired by the Richemont Group in 1997.  Fast forward to today, Panerai is known for its rugged and bold timepieces, with action stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Rock Dwayne Johnson and others among wearing them. But the firm is also seeing growing interest among the female community.  So how does Panerai assess its positioning and customer base over the years and what does it mean for the firm when it comes to future designs and product pipeline? Meanwhile, Panerai had in June 2023 launched its global flagship boutique in New York, but which are the key markets for the firm? What are the opportunities ahead and where does Panerai intend to expand into next? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jean-Marc Pontroue, CEO, Panerai.

Swift-mania may have hit Singapore in a big way, but that's not the only event happening this weekend. The Singapore Cricket Club is hosting the SCC International Hockey Sixes, with a host of teams local and abroad set to do battle at the Padang. Why should you make time for this FREE event? Subhas Nathan, Chairman of the SCC International Hockey Sixes, tells us! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg