Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares fell today, after Wall Street and Europe closed lower the week before amid concerns over prolonged elevated global interest rates. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) dropped 0.2 per cent to 3,199.12 points after 35.4 million securities changed hands in the broader market.. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Frasers Centrepoint Trust after its trustee has agreed to divest 143.9 million units in Malaysia’s Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar Reit).  Meanwhile from more on Sheng Siong to Singapore’s headline inflation numbers and to China’s property stocks slumping ahead of the Golden week holiday, more local and regional headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked these developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Typically when people think of classical music, they envision composers like Mozart, Schumann, and Mendelssohn. But far too often, their female counterparts are overlooked.  Our next guest is an Australian composer of classical music. And from the age of five, she studied piano and music theory under her parent’s tutelage and at eight began learning the cello which coincided with her first experimentations in composition. Dr Melody Eötvös, Senior Lecturer in Composition, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne share with us, her personal journey in the tough global industry of classical music. 

Customer segmentation and targeting are essential for any business that wants to optimise its marketing and sales strategies. By dividing your customers into groups based on their characteristics, needs, preferences, and behaviours, you can tailor your messages, offers, and channels to suit each segment.  But how can a company use CRM to segment and target your customers effectively? Terri Chan, Group VP of Growth, HealthMetrics shares her company's experience in implementing a CRM platform. 

The prospect of a US government shutdown grows more likely with each passing day as lawmakers have yet to reach a deal to extend funding past a critical deadline at the end of the month. Can a US government shut down be averted? And what could likely happen if the government shuts down?  Trisha Craig, Vice President (Engagement) and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Sociology and Political Science), Yale-NUS College explains more. 

This company will certainly ring a bell for those who’ve been keeping an eye on the movers on the Singapore exchange.  Our guest for today is DFI Retail Group, or a leading pan-Asian retailer that owns the Cold Storage and Giant chains of supermarkets, Guardian pharmacies and 7-Eleven convenience stores here in Singapore. At a group level, DFI Retail operates over 10,500 outlets in 13 countries and territories and has a workforce of over 216,000 people.  It returned to the black with a net profit of US$8 million for the first half of this year, after logging a net loss of US$58 million in the previous year.  But to what extent does this reflect improved household spending, particularly on food and groceries?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Yoep Man, Managing Director, Food, Singapore, DFI Retail Group,  who is in charge of DFI Retail Group’s food and supermarket business.

Singapore Premier League defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) have announced a shift in policy from being a club with mainly Japanese professionals to one with predominantly Singaporean players. So why have the club decided to go local, and why now - ahead of their 20th season in top flight Singapore football? We speak to Dominic Wong, Albirex Niigata Team Manager & Club Executive and Hilman Norhisam, 19-year old Singaporean Albirex player to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Sky-high restaurant SKAI refreshes its à la carte menu under the leadership of new executive chef Seumas Smith. With a firm appreciation for the art of Japanese cookery, this new menu is a celebration of the Japanese produce. For more on what you can experience at the contemporary grill, situated on the 70th floor of the acclaimed Swissôtel The Stamford, we speak with Seumas Smith, Executive Chef, SKAI.

Singapore stocks opened weaker today, following overnight losses on Wall Street and Europe. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) headed down 0.6 per cent to 3,182.7 points after about 51.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch today, we have the mainboard-listed Creative Technology, after it announced a tie-up with Chinese electronics company Skyworth.  Elsewhere from Delivery Hero in talks to sell its foodpanda business in Singapore and six other Southeast Asian markets to a look at major central bank’s latest rate decisions, more corporate 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.

2023 in particular has been the year of generative AI, and new developments have both impressed and alarmed people all around the world.  However, fear seems to be the winning sentiment in the current business landscape, even AI experts and industry executives are calling for an “AI-pause” in developing more powerful systems. So how can a company like Aboitiz Data Innovation achieving harmony between operationalisation and innovation of AI and data?  David R. Hardoon, Chief Executive Officer, Aboitiz Data Innovation shares more. 

Today we’re going to talk about a company that supplies steel pipes, tie rods, as well as crane rails for waterfront, underground and even rail projects.  Founded in 2011, Mlion Corporation is a foundation solutions company that focuses on port and waterfront developments, civil excavation and power generation related infrastructure in Asia.   It also adds value to the supply chain by providing downstream services such as warehousing, storage and logistics to access local markets.  Think of the landmark Apple Store at Marina Bay Sands Waterfront, the T235 Viaduct and Tunnels for the RTS Link to Johor Bahru, and the Thomson East Coast Line. These are all projects that Mlion had taken part in previously.  And with offices in Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Timor Leste, which is the biggest market for Mlion financially?  Meanwhile, steel prices have plunged as more Chinese producer export the commodity. So what does this mean for Mlion in terms of the cost and selling price of its products? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Eric Leong, Chairman & CEO, Mlion Corporation to share more about the business with us.