Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

From Bersatu’s MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan almost suspension to Malaysia's relationship with China and Indonesia’s incoming President, Prabowo Subianto ambitions for the country.  Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst, Solaris Strategies Singapore gives us an analysis on those headlines and more. 

Helping tugboats, ferries, pilot boats and other coastal vehicles electrify and ride the green wave – that’s what we are going to talk about today.  Founded in 2022, our guest for today Pyxis is a maritime electrification technology startup that aims to create a more sustainable future at sea by easing mass commercialisation and adoption of electric coastal vehicles. Supported by leading coastal vessel owners and government agencies, Pyxis accelerates maritime decarbonisation while elevating vessel performance and management.  For one thing, the firm is focusing on retrofitting existing vessels with full electric propulsion systems including 70 coastal vessels owned by maritime services firm Eng Hup Shipping. With the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore mandating all new harbour craft in Singapore waters to operate on low-carbon energy solutions and reduce emissions by 15 per cent from 2021 levels, what opportunities does this present for Pyxis in the longer run?  Meanwhile, the firm had in February 2024 raised S$4.5 million in a seed funding round led by Motion Ventures and Shift4Good. The round featured participants such as Enterprise SG’s Seeds Capital, MarImpact, Tian San Shipping and LCC Resources. But what is the strategic value behind this group of investors and how does the maritime startup intend to use the money? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Tommy Phun, Founder, Pyxis.

The world’s best Table Tennis stars are coming back to Singapore for the Singapore Smash at Singapore Sports Hub from Thursday 7 to Sunday 17 March. But this year's event will be for more than just lovers of the sport, promises to be bigger and better. Why? We speak to Shaun Nik, Head of Event and Experience at World Table Tennis, to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore shares rose at the opening bell this morning, despite overnight losses in global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.2 per cent to 3,127.49 points after 36.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have City Developments Limited. The property giant is close to sealing a 244 million euro (S$356 million) deal to buy the Hilton Paris Opera hotel from asset management giant Blackstone. Meanwhile from the latest China GDP growth target to investors sentiment on Wall Street ahead of the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony and key jobs openings numbers – more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Carmen Lee, Head of OCBC Investment Research.

Electricity prices are continuing to go up due to rising energy costs, higher carbon tax and the GST hike. And over the years LED lighting technology has achieved new breakthroughs, with ultra energy-efficient bulbs that consume 60 percent less energy than standard LEDs and with a lifespan of 50 years entering the market. So are LED lights a useful investment for one to save cost and conserve energy?  Fabian Choh, Public and Government Affairs Leader (ASEAN), Signify Singapore tells us more. 

From China's annual political conclave kicking off in Beijing to Chinese developer Country Garden facing liquidation petition.  Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

It's getting tight at the top as City closed the gap on pace-setters Liverpool with 3-1 win in the Manchester Derby. We review the 'inevitable' nature of their win, plus the rest of the 'inevitable' subplots that took centre stage this past sporting weekend!  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Financial technology or better known as fintech is used to describe new technology that seeks to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. But from 2018 or so to 2022, there was a shift to consumer-oriented services. fintech now includes different sectors and industries such as education, retail banking. So how can we expect the fintech industry to continue evolving in the near future? Yuval Ziv, President, Nuvei shares his views.

Singapore stocks were pulled into positive territory today after global equities ended the previous week with record gains. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.3 per cent at 3,145.39 points after 34.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Great Eastern and OCBC. That’s with a group of Great Eastern’s minority shareholders proposing to withhold directors’ fees, to change the share option schemes of employees, and to appoint an independent financial adviser.  Elsewhere from China’s Premier Li Qiang being the first premier in three decades to skip holding a National People’s Congress briefing, to Japan’s Nikkei Index surpassing the 40,000 mark for the first time today, more international 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.

Meltwater together with  We Are Social  have recently released Digital 2024, their latest annual report on social media and digital trends worldwide. And in spite of Singapore’s high internet penetration and mobile connectivity, internet and social media users, aged 16 to 64, are not glued online as one might assume.  David Hickey, Executive Director, Meltwater (Asia-Pacific) tells us more about the findings from this study and social media's role in our local political scene.