Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Most of us are eagerly anticipating the festivities of the Lunar New Year, we can't help but revel in the joyous celebrations that come with delectable treats like pineapple tarts, yusheng, bak kwas and festive drinks.  However, amidst the festive indulgence, it is crucial to shed light on the potential impact of sugary, starchy, and highly acidic foods on our oral health. Dr James Ho, Founder of GPlus Dental Center and G Dental Center shares practical tips to minimise the risk of dental issues during this festive period. 

What is the one common factor between an astronaut on the international space station, billionaire Elon Musk, and South Korean actor Song Joong Ki? The answer might make you go ‘What, Seriously?’ Now, are you ready for the answer? Well, the answer is that all three of them eat Kopiko candies at some point in their lives.  If you’re a K-drama lover, you might have noticed Kopiko candies appear out of nowhere  – sometimes almost as frequently as Subway – in the middle of your favourite shows.  And in 2017, a then-Twitter post by the official International Space Station account showed a group of astronauts enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner, with Kopiko candies in the picture.  Fast forward to 2022, Elon Musk was offered Kopiko candies by Indonesia’s minister of maritime and investment affairs when they met in Texas. The billionaire tried the candied treat for the first time and was caught in video raising both his thumbs.  But what have these got to do with money you might ask. Believe it or not, shares of Kopiko’s owner Mayora Group jumped 7.3 per cent as a result of the video featuring Elon Musk.  So what is Kopiko’s secret to building a strong brand both organically and inorganically, and what is the financial reward for doing so?  Also – what is the return on investments in promotional strategies such as product placements?  And how far is Kopiko’s proliferation into K-dramas a good strategy for the firm to position itself as a global brand? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Pak Ricky, Director and Global Marketing Director, Mayora Group. 

Manchester United have persuaded Omar Berrada - one of the architects of Manchester City's success under Pep Guardiola - away from the Etihad to become their new CEO. But who is the 46-year old Spaniard? And what will he bring to the table to rescue the ailing red half of Manchester? We speak to ex-Singapore footballer Sasikumar, who worked with Berrada during his time in Spain, to find out more! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Another longstanding mall is being poofed from existence. But despite its closure following a run of over 40 years, Peace Centre is not going down quietly. Instead, the establishment wants you to make plenty of noise at the PeaceOut Festival. Organised by the Bring The Roof Down initiative, the festival hopes to give Peace Centre a fitting curtain call as it rides off into the sunset.  Chris Milliken, CEO & Founder, PengWine, Author & Entrepreneur tells us more about the event. 

From January to June 2024, Belgium will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), a position it has not held since 2010. With the motto  "Protect, Strengthen, Prepare", Belgium will be tasked with presiding over all matters dealt with at the European level, from research to justice, industry to employment, and extending to finances and telecommunications.  Colette Taquet, Ambassador of Belgium to Singapore tell us how Belgium is aiming to build a better Europe during their tenure. 

Singapore stocks dipped at the opening bell today after global equities turned out a mixed showing overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.2 per cent to 3,128.55 points as 36.9 million securities worth S$58.8 million changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust. The Reit’s manager reported that its distribution per unit (DPU) for the second half of 2023 fell by 10.2 per cent from a year earlier. Meanwhile from a rally in Alibaba shares to more on Comfort Delgro - more corporate headlines are in focus. Also on deck – Netflix posting its best customer gain since the pandemic surge, and Ebay move to slash 1,000 jobs. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with Willie Keng, Founder, The Dividend Titan.

In focus in this week's Regional Roundup is Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) latest probes on former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and his family and former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s son Mirzan Mahat.  Adib Zalkapli, Director, BowerGroupAsia shares his analysis on these headlines. 

You might have heard of Jotun paint or the Jif dishwashing liquid (they are known as Cif in Singapore and carried by Unilever, but that is a story for another day), but did you know who is the player behind these brands? What about a Norwegian conglomerate called Orkla ASA?  Founded in 1654, Orkla is a leading industrial investment company focusing on brands and consumer oriented companies. Just to give you a sense of the business’ scale of operations, Orkla ASA generated operating revenues of some 58.4 billion Norwegian Krones or S$7.44 billion in 2022 and a workforce of over 20,000 employees.  The Oslo Stock Exchange listed firm has 12 companies under its belt, in areas such as paints and coatings, home and personal care, foods, confectionery and snacks, health and food ingredients among others. And it has set some exciting financial targets for these brands. For one thing, the firm had in November last year estimated the value creation potential for its consolidated portfolio companies to be 40 to 45 billion Norwegian Krones (S$5.11 billion to S$5.75 billion) in the period between 2023 and 2026.  This will mean a Compound Annual Growth Rate (or CAGR) of 8 to 10% for underlying adjusted EBIT (or earnings before interest and taxes) and a margin expansion in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 percentage points.  But how does it intend to do so? Which portfolio companies is it looking to grow versus to transform or exit? Also with Orkla selling its products in over 100 countries, what value does Asia hold for the firm? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kaj-Dac Tam, Vice-President, Net Revenue Management, Orkla Group.

Having secured her card on the prestigious Ladies European Tour in 2024, Singaporean Shannon Tan has made a remarkable start to live as a professional golfer - finishing runner-up in her maiden event. So what next for the hotshot, who at just 19 years of age seems to be on the fast track to success? We spoke to her to find out! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-golfer-shannon-tan-turns-professional-after-securing-european-tour-card Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore shares climbed at market open today after global equities ended higher overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent to 3,154.90 points after 63 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, Frasers Centrepoint Trust (J69U): The committed occupancy of the trust’s retail portfolio was 99.9 per cent for the first quarter ended Dec 31, 2023.  Elsewhere, from Singapore’s inflation numbers for 2023 to the Bank of Japan holding its monetary policy settings, more regional and international headlines are in focus. Also on deck – how India’s stock market overtook Hong Kong for the first time. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeremy Tan, CEO, Tiger Fund Management.