Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Joseph Schooling announced his retirement aged just 28. Why, why now and what next for Singapore’s first and only Olympic champion? We speak to the man himself soon after he announced his decision to call it quits. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/joseph-schooling-it-s-my-turn-to-be-a-normal-guy Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

No secret that Southeast Asia's burgeoning e-commerce market is witnessing heightened competition due to the emergence of new platform contenders. And this also means that all brands are vying to provide the most attractive deals and competitive pricing.  So how can online businesses and brands operating on these e-commerce platforms maintain a competitive edge and captivate consumer interest? Annie Yao, Head of Growth, Market Intelligence, Flywheel Southeast Asia tells us more. 

Liverpool are now top of the Premier League after Manchester City's draw with Arsenal. With just 3 points separating the trio and 9 games to go in league, who will emerge victorious? We review the weekend of football on this episode! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks rose at the opening bell this morning, mirroring gains in US and European markets.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.2 per cent to 3,230.62 points after 73.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have ComfortDelGro. Its subsidiary Metroline won contracts worth £422 million (S$719.8 million), to operate four public-bus franchises in the UK for five years.  Meanwhile, from more on how February’s US personal consumption expenditures price index influenced markets to Swatch buyers in China hesitating their watch purchases over higher prices - more international and 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.

Asia’s Largest Youth Football Tournament, the JSSL 7s returns for it's landmark 10th edition with over 450 teams battling it out at 5 different locations across the island. Did you know the JSSL academy also laid the foundations for the likes of Ilhan, Ikhsan, Danelle Tana and even BG Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee? Tune is as Harvey Davies, founder and Tournament Director of the JSSL 7s, tells us more! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

From leadership roles to groundbreaking innovations, women are undeniably transforming the face of the hospitality industry. Recognizing this, Hilton is dedicated to amplifying women's voices within its executive teams. Notably, women currently constitute 50% of the APAC executive leadership. The company is also on a promising path toward achieving its goal of increasing female GM representation across the APAC region. Patsy Ng, Hilton’s Vice President for Human Resources in Asia Pacific shares more. 

Did you know that nearly 10% of the population in Singapore suffers from migraines? Emerging research now suggests a potential link between migraines and the presence of a hole in the heart, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). More than half of all infants are born with a PFO, and in most cases, it closes on its own within the first few months of life. However, in some people, the ‘hole’ remains open.  Dr Rohit Khurana, Consultant Cardiologist, Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, Singapore explains. 

Russia is still reeling from its deadliest terrorist incident in two decades. It is estimated that more than 130 people were killed and scores more injured in Friday's attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall concert venue. The Islamic State group has said four of its members carried out the attack. Yet Russian officials, and state media, have largely ignored any Islamic State link, focusing almost exclusively on a possible Ukrainian connection. What will Putin do next? And what does this all mean for Russia’s war with Ukraine? Dr Samir Puri, Associate Fellow, UK in the World Programme weighs in.

Singapore shares entered the morning session barely moved, as gains from travel and hospitality-related index counters clashed with a weaker showing from banks. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) edged up 0.03 per cent to 3,252.69 points after 35 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have ESR-Logos Reit, after its manager said today that it obtained a S$200 million sustainability-linked unsecured revolving credit facility agreement.  Elsewhere from China’s protracted property downturn eroding the balance sheets of state banks to the monetary cost of the Baltimore bridge collapse to insurers and the impact on shipping lines – more international headlines are in focus. Also on deck, Amazon is investing an additional US$2.75 billion in AI startup Anthropic. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

It is all about the concrete that goes into the buildings we live, work and play in today! Founded in 1958, our guest Pan-United Corporation is a Singapore-grown and publicly listed concrete innovation company that aims to catalyse change and promote sustainability in the ready-mix concrete and logistics space.  The company is one the largest producers of concrete here in Asia. The firm has a catalogue of over 300 specialised concrete solutions and serves a wide variety of industries such as aviation, underground, transport and more. In particular, its range of over 150 low-carbon concrete products were used in iconic buildings and urban structures such as Jewel at Changi Airport, the Helix Bridge, Gardens by the Bay and even residential homes like the Pinnacles@Duxton and Reflections at Keppel Bay.  Its concrete solutions also moulded infrastructure such as the Tuas Mega Port, our MRT Lines – the Circle Line, Downtown Line and Thomson East Coast Line – as well as highways.  Why are we talking about Pan-United Corporation you might ask. Well, the firm had in February reported a net profit of S$20.4 million for the second half of its 2023 financial year ended December, up 107 per cent from the year ago period.  The performance came amid higher revenue, driven by the firm’s concrete and cement business. But how does the firm assess its latest performance and what will be its key drivers of growth? Meanwhile, Pan-United Corporation also plans to transform its business model to become a solutions provider and sell its intellectual property in sustainable concrete – so what can we look forward to on this front?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to May Ng, CEO, Pan-United Corporation.