Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Approximately US$2.5 trillion is expected to be transferred to the next generation by around 70,000 high-net-worth individuals in Asia-Pacific (APAC) over the next decade. And Millennials and Gen Z are projected to dominate 70 percent of the global luxury market spenders by 2025.  So how will this set to impact the region’s luxury retail landscape and consumer spending behaviour? Jess Tang, Senior Consultant of APAC, WGSN tells us more. 

From Donald Trump's looming $454 million fraud judgement deadline to the US' aviation scene in trouble.  Dr John Donaldson, Associate Professor of Political Science,  School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

Singapore put up a rallying performance, on head coach Tsutomu Ogura's debut, to come from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against China - securing their first point in the 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign. Buoyed by close to 30-thousand in attendance at the Singapore Sports Hub, the Lions heeded the call of duty to leave fans feeling optimistic. So what was good, what was bad and what could be better? We speak to Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times, to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks opened weaker this morning, despite overnight gains in US and European markets.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.2 per cent to 3,215.3 points after 40 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, Marco Polo Marine. The shipyard and marine logistics company yesterday said that its Taiwanese subsidiary, PKR Offshore, has secured the Asia-Pacific Crew Transfer Vessel framework agreement with wind-turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa.   Elsewhere, we’ll also look at the latest data out of the US and how that has influenced the recent optimism surrounding the Federal Reserve’s resolve to lower rates this year. 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.

Using the power of machine learning to help companies optimise the Return on Investment of their digital marketing strategies – that’s what we are talking about today.  Founded in 2013 by a group of former Google engineers, our guest is Silicon Valley based ad-tech unicorn Moloco. The company offers performance marketing solutions that help businesses maximise their advertising spend on mobile apps.  For one thing, Moloco’s demand side platform allows advertisers to purchase targeted ads on over 2 million apps automatically using a machine powered system, diversifying beyond the big players like Google and Meta. Aside from helping individual advertisers place their ads and improve the outcomes of their media campaigns, Moloco also helps companies like online marketplaces build their own advertising business.  This is done by automatically assigning personalised ads based on real time user activity, with the ability to serve 20,000 advertisers in a day. More recently, the firm also came out with an advertising solution for Over the Top (OTT) and streaming businesses to set up their own advertising business focused on outcomes.  The company had in July last year welcomed Fidelity Management & Research Company and Singapore’s EDBI as its shareholders through secondary share transactions.  The transactions put Moloco at a whopping US$2 billion, 40 per cent higher than its valuation of US$1.5 billion in a 2021 Series C round. But what were the drivers behind the big numbers?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Nikhil Raj, Chief Business Officer of Retail Media, Moloco.

What defines an all-time great? Trophies? Goals? Clean sheets? Well in conjunction with the Football Association of Singapore, Sports Minutes conducted a special contest to garner the peoples' choice when it comes to that age old question....Who is your all-time favourite footballer? Tune in as we take a trip down memory lane!  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

According to a report by LinkedIn - skills needed for a job here will change by a whopping 72% by 2030 as a result of greater AI adoption among businesses.  To keep up with the trend, 92% of businesses are planning to focus on improving employees’ skills this year, while nearly half are looking to provide online training and development programs. While the SkillsFuture scheme expands to better equip Singaporeans (especially those over 40), the new top-ups are focused on selected programs and uptake in recent years remains low. So, how can Singaporeans take better control of their learning and employment prospects to keep up with the ever changing jobs market? ?  Suvig Sharma, Area Vice-President ASEAN, Confluent shares more. 

From Catherine, Princess of Wales photo controversy to who will be Ireland’s next leader after Leo Varadkar stepped down.  Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific weighs in. 

Singapore shares rose at the opening bell this morning, following mixed results in global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.6 per cent to 3,197.77 points after 49.5 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Olam Group. Its indirect 64.57 per cent-owned subsidiary, Olam Agri, has launched a non-binding indicative offer to acquire all shares in Australian cotton ginning company Namoi Cotton for some A$122 million (S$107.8 million).  Elsewhere from the US Federal Reserve sticking to its earlier projection of three rate cuts this year and comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell on whether a strong labour market could derail its plans to cut rates, more international headlines are in focus. Also on deck, fashionistas suing luxury brand Hermes for not selling them the iconic Birkin handbag without buying scarves, shoes and belts! On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital.

Having struggled for game time with his club side, Ilhan Fandi is relishing being back in the Lions' den. Under the tutelage of new head coach Tsutomu Ogura, there is renewed optimism ahead of Singapore's crucial WCQ clash against China. Will the off-pitch optimism equate to an uptick in on-pitch fortunes? Ilhan Fandi is certainly bullish as he spills the beans on Sports Minutes. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg