Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Radium is an element we see in our periodic tables during chemistry lessons. But did you know that it was once used to make watches for naval divers thanks to its self-luminescence quality?  In fact, one luxury firm used to supply such timepieces to the Italian military back in the early 1900s.  And while Radium was banned in the 1960s due to its radioactive properties, the glow-in-the-dark feature of this company’s watches remains its key selling point up till today.  We’re talking about the Italian watch brand Panerai. Founded in Florence in 1860 as a workshop, shop and subsequently school of watchmaking, Panerai had for many decades supplied the Italian Navy and its specialist diving corp in particular with precision instruments.  At that time, the designs developed by Panerai were covered by the Military Secrets Acts. It stayed that way for many years and the models were only launched on the international market after it was acquired by the Richemont Group in 1997.  Fast forward to today, Panerai is known for its rugged and bold timepieces, with action stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Rock Dwayne Johnson and others among wearing them. But the firm is also seeing growing interest among the female community.  So how does Panerai assess its positioning and customer base over the years and what does it mean for the firm when it comes to future designs and product pipeline? Meanwhile, Panerai had in June 2023 launched its global flagship boutique in New York, but which are the key markets for the firm? What are the opportunities ahead and where does Panerai intend to expand into next? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jean-Marc Pontroue, CEO, Panerai.

Swift-mania may have hit Singapore in a big way, but that's not the only event happening this weekend. The Singapore Cricket Club is hosting the SCC International Hockey Sixes, with a host of teams local and abroad set to do battle at the Padang. Why should you make time for this FREE event? Subhas Nathan, Chairman of the SCC International Hockey Sixes, tells us! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

This 89-year-old bakery has been around since the 1920s. Originally a humble street stall, they opened their first brick-and-mortar bakery in 1935. Today, Tong Heng is a homegrown brand celebrated for its handmade diamond-shaped egg tarts and one of Singapore’s oldest traditional Chinese pastry shops. So, what's in store for the future? Ana Fong, Chief Operating Officer and 4th-generation successor of Tong Heng explains. 

Singapore shares opened flat this morning, despite overnight gains in global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was flat, falling just 0.09 point to 3,141.76 points after 77.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have ComfortDelGro. The transport operator announced a net profit of S$102 million for the second half of 2023, up 76.5 per cent from S$57.8 million in the year-earlier period. Elsewhere from a breakdown of the latest personal consumption expenditures or PCE Index out of the US to the Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda stopping short of declaring the 2 percent price inflation target met, more international headlines are 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.

In 2023 alone, mobile cyber security came under close scrutiny across the region but particularly in Singapore. Fast forward to 2024, regulators are taking a more active role in the mobile security landscape. How important is geo-compliance for app makers who are looking to comply with the rules and regulations in force in every geography where their mobile apps are in use? Jan Sysmans, Mobile App Security Evangelist, Appdome weighs in.

For the first time ever, Singapore’s resident total fertility rate has dropped below 1.0. Preliminary estimates show that the total fertility rate fell to 0.97 in 2023, declining further from the previous record of 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021. What are the factors leading to the new low? And should we be worried?  Dr Mathew Mathews, Head, Social Lab, and Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore shares his views. 

The Lion City Sailors have signed attacking midfielder Bart Ramselaar from Dutch Eredivisie side Utrecht on a deal till the end of the 2025-26 campaign. The 27-year-old, who won the Eredivisie title with PSV Eindhoven and has three caps for the Netherlands, arrives for a reported fee of about €1.5 million (S$2.2 million) - making him the SECOND most expensive signing in SPL history. So what can fans expect? We spoke to the man himself to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

While inflation has made travel and just about everything else more expensive, consumers are still planning to spend as much or more on travel in 2024. So, what are some travel trends to look out for, and how does that impact your financial planning for your next trip? Vinay Surana, Regional Managing Director – Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Allianz Partners weighs in.

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 3,145.29 points after 48.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have semiconductor equipment maker AEM. The firm reported a net loss of S$20.9 million for the six months ended December, reversing from a net profit of S$44 million in the corresponding period a year earlier.  Meanwhile from Alibaba Group Holdings slashing prices for cloud services by as much as 55 per cent to movements on the Malaysian Ringgit, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

Ageing is a significant risk factor for pain-related conditions. And as populations grow older and live longer, outdated beliefs about pain management may deprive many seniors from living their best lives as they age. The question is, how are healthcare professionals adapting to shifting attitudes about pain? Are there sufficient GPs trained in pain management who can meet the evolving expectations of patients? Dr Bernard Lee, CEO of Singapore Paincare Holdings Limited, Senior Consultant Pain Specialist of Singapore Paincare Center weighs in.