Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Today we’re going to speak to a wholly owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group that focuses specifically on travel arrangements. Launched in 2016, Fliggy is an online marketplace that helps users in and out of China to book for flights, accommodation, train tickets, group travel essentials and attraction tickets.  The firm said it leverages Alibaba Group’s product and technical development abilities to enhance its user experience and service capabilities to better meet consumer’s needs.  So far, the platform has a user base of over 320 million registered users. But what is the significance of Fliggy to the wider Alibaba Group?  And where does the company fit in Alibaba’s portfolio, after the parent company announced a restructuring effort in March 2023? Meanwhile, Alibaba said Fliggy’s gross merchandise value sales increased rapidly year-over-year during the quarter ended September 2023, driven by a strong recovery in both domestic and international travel demands.  But what is the magnitude we are looking at and how is Fliggy positioning itself for future growth? Are there any plans to also list Fliggy on regional stock exchanges soon? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Simeon Shi, Chief Strategy Officer, Fliggy.

For those looking to get active as part of their new year’s resolutions for 2024, there is a nagging worry as they return to the gym, football field and badminton hall. The risk of injury looms for all, whether they are student-athletes or weekend warriors. We speak to Dr Cormac O’Muircheartaigh, medical director of the Sports Medicine Lab, for his expert insights into common sports injuries and how to prevent them. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/hitting-the-gym-hard-in-2024-get-tips-from-a-specialist-on-how-to-prevent-sports-injuries Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks began trading stronger today, following overnight gains on global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.1 per cent to 3,150.09 points after 34.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have Frasers Centrepoint Trust, after the trust’s private placement to raise S$200 million closed at the issue price of S$2.18 (2 Singapore dollars and 18 cents) per new unit. Elsewhere, from China granting video game licences to the latest US GDP numbers out last night – more local and 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.

Cybersecurity has become an urgent and paramount concern for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. The exponential growth of global cybercrime, which is estimated to cost around $3 trillion annually, has made the protection of data and sensitive information more important than ever. To bridge the rapid digitalisation and growing cyber threats across different domains, cybersecurity skills are fast becoming a valuable skill set. Sandeep Bhargava, SVP, Global Services and Solutions, Public Cloud Business Unit, Rackspace Technology explains why local organizations need to urgently prioritize investments in cybersecurity talent.

The move to discontinue the NETS FlashPay card and some adult EZ-Link cards for use on buses and trains was announced earlier in January. But in an intereting turn of events, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has U-turned its decision to phase out the old ticketing system in favour of SimplyGo.  So could SimplyGo make a proper comeback after such a debacle?  Terence Fan, Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education); Academic Director, Accreditation, Singapore Management University shares his perspective. 

This conversation is set to get you itching to go on your next holiday. Make a guess as to who our guest is for today.  Drumrolls – we’re talking to the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, Scoot, or the airline that merged with Tigerair Singapore about seven years ago.  Since taking to the skies in 2012, Scoot has carried over 82 million passengers and has a fleet of over 50 aircrafts, comprising widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners and single-aisle Airbus A320s.  And it appears that 2024 will be an exciting year for the carrier amid the ongoing travel recovery.  The International Air Transport Association, or IATA, for one thing, expects the number of passengers travelling by air to surpass 2019 levels and reach a whopping 4.7 billion this year. That said, with air travel capacity tipped to increase this year, what will the robust demand mean for air ticket prices?  Speaking of capacity, Scoot is adding nine new Embraer E190-E2 aircrafts from this year to 2025 to support its network growth strategy. But why did the firm opt to source its planes from another airline, and what will this mean in terms of profitability? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to  Calvin Chan, Chief Commercial Officer, Scoot.

ST Hospitality, the hospitality brand of Katrina Group Ltd., has recently unveiled its fifth co-living hotel in Singapore – ST Signature Bugis Middle, located at 21 Middle Road. This expansion aligns with the growing demand for distinctive yet value-for-money accommodation in prime locations, fuelled by the increasing influx of both domestic and international tourism.  Andreas Lorenz, Chief Operating Officer, ST Hospitality explains hows he is bringing a unique perspective to the table, transitioning from his background as a chef to managing a successful chain of co-living hotels in Singapore. 

Singapore stocks slipped in the first few minutes of trade today, led by declines by real estate investment trusts and other index counters. That’s as investors await a slew of earnings in the coming weeks. In early trade, Straits Times Index headed down 0.2 per cent to 3,148.54 points, after 33.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Mapletree Logistics Trust. The trust manager announced a 1.2  per cent year-on-year rise in distribution per unit on the back of a resilient portfolio, contributions from acquisitions and divestment gains. Elsewhere, from Elon Musk’s comments on Chinese EV firms to the US Federal Reserve raising the rate on its emergency loan programme, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s Timothy Go dived into the details with Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital.  (Produced by: Chua Tian Tian)

The HSBC Women's World Championship returns to Singapore in February 2024 for a 16th edition. Featuring the world's best, the four-day festival of golf will be a platform to celebrate the sport of golf, all the brilliant women competing, and many inspirational women from all facets of life around the world. We speak to Becky Harding, Tournament Director of HSBC Women’s World Championship & local qualifier Chen Xing Tong to find out more! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in India on Thursday as the chief guest at the Indian Republic Day celebrations. The French presidency says the trip will "consolidate and deepen diplomatic and economic relations". Will the French be eyeing any lucrative trade deals with India? Can Macron's visit give a push to India-EU trade deal talks? Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific breaks it down with Elliott Danker and Timothy Go.