Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Singapore equities started trading in positive territory today after global markets ended mixed overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.3 per cent to 3,224.06 points after 34.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Seatrium and Global Invacom. Both companies today filed notices that they each registered three consecutive years of losses based on audited full-year consolidated accounts.  Elsewhere, from competition for IPOs within major stock exchanges around the world to a lookahead to US inflation numbers – more international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – how Donald’s Trump’s media and technology firm the Trump Media & Technology Group fell as much as 12 percent yesterday. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Chong Ser Jing, Co-founder and Portfolio Manager, Compounder Fund.

All of us know that getting a good night’s rest is essential for physical and mental health, well-being, productivity and overall quality of life. Yet, it remains a dream more than a reality for many in Singapore.  According to the 2023 Wellness Survey by OSIM, a staggering 95 percent of respondents suffered from poor sleep quality regardless of how long they slept each night. So why are Singaporeans not getting a good night's sleep? Liza Yao, Head of Branding & Strategic Marketing, OSIM International tells us more.

From highlights from US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen six day visit to China to Russia showing interest in being part of China’s Belt and Road plans in Central Asia. Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor of Political Science, NUS & Non-Resident Scholar, Carnegie China gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

Manchester United maybe having a season to forget, but maintained their unbeaten run against Liverpool this season. In 3 matches, 2 in the league and 1 in the FA Cup - the Red Devils have denied their arch rivals on all three occasions with Klopp's team only having a solitary point to show for their efforts. Could the latest drop points be the most pivotal, with Liverpool losing ground in the hunt for the crown? Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

A decade ago, the influencer marketing arena was limited only to celebrities and a few dedicated bloggers. Now, social media influencers have risen and saturated the market. And while their followings may vary in size, these influencers pack a punch. Sky Lim, Regional Business Director, X10 Media shares more about how the influence marketing scene has changed up over the years and his personal story of building the company. 

Singapore stocks were little changed at the opening bell this morning, following mixed results in US and European markets.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.03 per cent to 3,219.18 points after 61.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have Keppel, after the global asset manager and operator achieved its first close for the Keppel Sustainable Urban Renewal Fund.  Elsewhere,  from more on the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office’s forecast of growth in China and across Asia, to a lookahead of the new US corporate earnings season, more international headlines remain 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.

Singapore is leaving other countries in the dust when it comes to cybersecurity preparedness, according to a new government survey. However, according to the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, companies across 23 industries still had gaps and security breaches despite robust adoption of key cybersecurity measures.  So what are the most critical issues faced in Singapore today? And how is Tanium helping companies combat cybersecurity issues 'differently’?   Jeremy Hatfield, Global SVP of Technical Account Management and Enterprise Services, Tanium tells us more. 

United States President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for a summit in Washington on April 11. The first-of-its-kind gathering by the US and its two Asian allies is part of Biden’s strategy to stitch together existing bilateral alliances into broader “mini-laterals” to amplify US influence in Asia. How exactly is the US looking to upgrade its operations in East Asia? What message does the wave of US trilaterals send to China? Trisha Craig, Vice President (Engagement) and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Sociology and Political Science), Yale-NUS College weighs in.

Today we’re going to talk about a digital bank that is backed by two of Singapore’s technology and telecommunications powerhouses Grab and Singtel.  You might have guessed by now that we’re talking about GXS Bank. Launched in August 2022, GXS was positioned to address the pain points of Singapore’s underserved consumers such as gig economy workers, self-employed entrepreneurs and early jobbers in meeting their saving goals.  GXS said this was done through its products offerings such as daily interest crediting which was new to the industry at the time, helping its consumers, who may be more cash-strapped with their cash flows.  The bank started out two years ago by targeting users across the Grab and Singtel ecosystem, which rounded up to a potential market of about 3 million customers here in Singapore.  Its products, like its flagship savings account, were also only limited for selected Grab and Singtel customers, with a deposit cap of S$5,000 due to regulatory reasons.  The product, however, was opened up to new customers in July 2023 and the cap was also raised after a review by authorities.  So how far has that bolstered GXS Bank’s customer acquisition, and levelled the playing field between digital banks and traditional players? Also – how far has its positioning reaped financial benefits?  Meanwhile, Grab had in January this year injected S$145.1 million into GXS Bank.  Both Grab and Singtel are also set to put in a further S$229.5 million into the digital bank in Q3 this year. But what were the reasons behind the move and how does GXS Bank intend to use the money? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Muthukrishnan Ramaswami, Group Chief Executive Officer, GXS Bank.

In today's digital age, the demand for tech talents is skyrocketing, especially in thriving tech hubs like Singapore. However, navigating the hiring process in such a competitive market can be challenging. What are the critical strategies for navigating the tech talent shortage in Singapore?  Dinesh Varadharajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow weighs in.