Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

United States President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for a summit in Washington on April 11. The first-of-its-kind gathering by the US and its two Asian allies is part of Biden’s strategy to stitch together existing bilateral alliances into broader “mini-laterals” to amplify US influence in Asia. How exactly is the US looking to upgrade its operations in East Asia? What message does the wave of US trilaterals send to China? Trisha Craig, Vice President (Engagement) and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Sociology and Political Science), Yale-NUS College weighs in.

Today we’re going to talk about a digital bank that is backed by two of Singapore’s technology and telecommunications powerhouses Grab and Singtel.  You might have guessed by now that we’re talking about GXS Bank. Launched in August 2022, GXS was positioned to address the pain points of Singapore’s underserved consumers such as gig economy workers, self-employed entrepreneurs and early jobbers in meeting their saving goals.  GXS said this was done through its products offerings such as daily interest crediting which was new to the industry at the time, helping its consumers, who may be more cash-strapped with their cash flows.  The bank started out two years ago by targeting users across the Grab and Singtel ecosystem, which rounded up to a potential market of about 3 million customers here in Singapore.  Its products, like its flagship savings account, were also only limited for selected Grab and Singtel customers, with a deposit cap of S$5,000 due to regulatory reasons.  The product, however, was opened up to new customers in July 2023 and the cap was also raised after a review by authorities.  So how far has that bolstered GXS Bank’s customer acquisition, and levelled the playing field between digital banks and traditional players? Also – how far has its positioning reaped financial benefits?  Meanwhile, Grab had in January this year injected S$145.1 million into GXS Bank.  Both Grab and Singtel are also set to put in a further S$229.5 million into the digital bank in Q3 this year. But what were the reasons behind the move and how does GXS Bank intend to use the money? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Muthukrishnan Ramaswami, Group Chief Executive Officer, GXS Bank.

In today's digital age, the demand for tech talents is skyrocketing, especially in thriving tech hubs like Singapore. However, navigating the hiring process in such a competitive market can be challenging. What are the critical strategies for navigating the tech talent shortage in Singapore?  Dinesh Varadharajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow weighs in.

From chatbots to virtual partners, AI companions are becoming increasingly popular among users seeking connection in an increasingly digital world. And yet, the rise in AI companionship also poses ethical questions and concerns about the impact these apps have on human interaction. Max Giammario, CEO & Co-Founder of MetaPalsshares more industry insights on AI companions as a means to enhance mental well-being.

With the Premier League title race on a knife edge heading into the final stretch, what will set the contenders apart from the pretenders? Well we're in conversation with ex-Gunner Ray Parlour, who is in Singapore for the SCC Soccer 7s, to find out what it takes to cross the finish line and emerge champions! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore shares fell at the opening bell this morning despite broader regional gains, tracking overnight losses in the US market. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) shed 0.8 per cent to 3,209.11 points after 62.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have GuocoLand. Its joint venture with Hong Leong Holdings is the sole bidder for an Upper Thomson Road plot in the latest state tender that closed yesterday.  Elsewhere, from Samsung Electronics expecting a 10-fold rise in Q1 profit to Elon Musk now giving out the coveted blue checkmarks to users on social media X for free, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Sunny Soh, Lead Technical Analyst (Capital Markets & Investor Education), SIAS.

What you eat defines who you are; it creates your identity. Our guest, at the age of six, arrived in Australia and grew up immersed in the multicultural energy of Sydney. His interest in cooking was inspired by the great international chefs he had studiously read about. And now he has opened Quenino by Victor Liong (QVL) located at Artyzen Singapore hotel. Victor Liong, Chef & Creative, Quenino by Victor Liong tells us more about Quenino and the term 'third culture cuisine' 

Celebrating a milestone 30th edition, the SCC Soccer 7s organized by the Singapore Cricket Club is happening from 5 to 7 March at the Padang. Featuring Premier League legend Ray Parlour & Patrik Berger, the 7-a-side football tournament will see a host of SPL Teams and regional teams in action! So why should you make time to go check it out? We speak to Guo Guang Chang, 2024 SCC Soccer 7s Chairman to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks inched up at the opening bell today, following mixed overnight results in US and European markets.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.5 per cent to 3,238.13 points after 35.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have  Cromwell European REIT, after the Reit divested a non-core office property in Poland for 15.9 million euros (S$23.1 million).  Elsewhere, from Google considering charging for new “premium” features run by artificial intelligence to Tokopedia and TikTok Shop completing backend integrations as per merger requirements to operate in Indonesia, more corporate and international headlines are in focus today. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

Are you a frequent traveller? Or maybe you are one of those who fancies a last minute trip as and when you feel like it. If you fall under that category, vacation ownership might just be for you!  Vacation ownership is a great way to travel how you want. It is the concept of owning a portion of a resort with the right to use the unit or points you own.  Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, International Operations, Travel + Leisure Co. tell us more.