Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore stocks were pulled into positive territory today following gains on Wall Street last week. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.4 per cent to 3,156.36 points after 69.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have DBS. The bank reported today a 16 per cent higher net profit of S$2.59 billion in the third quarter ended September, driven by a record high total income of S$5.2 billion.  Meanwhile, from more on the hot stocks of the day to Sanrio’s earnings and Elon Musk integrating his AI startup xAI with social media platform X, more corporate 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.

With the advent of social media, 'influencing' people has become an actual job. While influencer marketing is not a new concept, it has grown to be wildly popular in the past few years.  As more companies devote their time and effort to influencer marketing tactics, how big is the power of influence in Southeast Asia and Singapore?  Antoine Gross, General Manager, Southeast Asia and India, impact.com tells us. 

Today we’re going to bring you an inside look into a company said to be a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse.  Drumrolls – bingo if you’ve guessed Lenovo. Founded in 1984, the firm delivers a portfolio of PCs and tablets, monitors, accessories, smart home and collaboration solutions, as well as smart infrastructure data centre solutions around the world.  In fact, the firm has since 1995 shipped over half a billion PCs, and make three devices every second.  The company ranks the #217 in the Fortune Global 500. It is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where it is included as one of the initial members of the Hang Seng TECH Index.  Why are we talking about Lenovo? We’re talking about Lenovo because while it is widely known for its consumer products, the firm is very much into B2B services. For one thing, it works with Formula 1 to build technology infrastructure that facilitates the flow of data collected on race tracks. But how far will B2B business be a key driver for growth?  Speaking of growth, the firm has a history of acquiring major firms including IBM’s PC business back in 2005.  More recently, the company had in June last year acquired stakes in two digital units of Hong Kong telecoms firm PCCW to grow its IT services business. But how far will the firm rely on M&A and investments in other firms for future growth? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Fan Ho, Executive Director and General Manager, Asia Pacific Solutions and Services Group, Lenovo.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been found guilty of defrauding customers of his now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange in one of the biggest financial frauds on record. The verdict came just shy of one year after FTX filed for bankruptcy. How will the verdict impact crypto markets going ahead? What more can be done in terms of regulation so that crypto investors in the US will be protected from future fraud? Antonio Fatás, Professor of Economics, INSEAD explains. We also take a look at the state of the US economy, and how that might affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, as well as the possible implications of further conflict in the Middle East on the global economy an inflation.

This is the inspiring story of 66-year old Xanthe Khatoon, a cancer survivor who overcame adversity to complete TWO marathons. And she's only getting started! We speak to Xanthe to learn more about journey through adversity, her mindset and her motivations. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/cancer-survivor-66-overcomes-obstacles-to-complete-5km-at-great-eastern-women-s-run Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore's nightlife and culinary scene saw itself given the kiss of life in 2022, when Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were fully lifted. And now, that very landscape has truly transformed, with new industry players looking to make an impression to invigorate consumer demand.  In December, patrons can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Singapore from the top floors of One Raffles Place when a multi-concept nightlife venue, HighHouse and Nova opens there. Spanning over 10,000 square feet and spearheaded by OUE Restaurants, it will be the largest nightlife venue to open since the Covid-19 pandemic. Wayne Lee, General Manager, HighHouse & NOVA shares more.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the re-activation of the chickenpox virus in people who have previously had chickenpox. The virus can be re-activated because of a range of issues that include advancing age, immune-suppressants, illness, or stress.  Dr Asok Kurup, Infectious Disease Expert, Mount Elizabeth Hospital helps us understand shingles better and whether its contagious. 

Singapore stocks posted strong gains at the open today, after global markets rallied overnight on the latest Federal Reserve decision to hold rates steady. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 1.1 per cent to 3,115.22 points after 82.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch today, we have Keppel Infrastructure Trust after it almost doubled its distributable income to S$266.1 million over the first nine months of 2023. The trust will also be paying a special distribution to unitholders.  Elsewhere from FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted of stealing from customers to Apple’s Tim Cook on iPhone demand in China, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments withSunny Soh, Lead Technical Analyst (Capital Markets & Investor Education), SIAS.

We now live in a world where much of what we do hinges on online platforms. And yet, we’re not really thinking about protecting our digital assets.  What digital legacy will you leave behind and why is it so important to have measures in place to protect them? Nicholas Worley, CEO & Founder, InaLife explains.

This is the conversation for you if you’re looking to travel the world and sail the seven seas in the upcoming December holidays. Founded in 1969, our guest Royal Caribbean International is the world’s largest cruise line. The firm prides itself on its history of innovation from being the firm with the first surf simulator to the fastest internet at sea.  It also has a global network across major sea routes. Just to give a sense of Royal Caribbean’s global footprint, the firm’s fleets visited 256 ports in 64 countries on 6 continents around the world back in 2017.  But how important is Asia to Royal Caribbean in the bigger scheme of things?  What is the role of Singapore as a market given how it was one of the first to allow ships to be homeported during the pandemic, and how it has been the homeport of Asia’s largest cruise ship, the Spectrum of the Seas?  How far will the firm’s attention shift from Singapore to China post-pandemic with Asia’s largest cruise ship, the Spectrum of the Seas, returning back to its original homeport of Shanghai in May 2024? Meanwhile, Disney Cruise Line has signed a deal to homeport its newest cruise ship here in Singapore for the first time. What does this mean for Royal Caribbean, and what will it take for Royal Caribbean to homeport even larger ships here in Singapore? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Bert Hernandez, Senior Vice President, Royal Caribbean International.