Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

US President Joe Biden is nearing the end of a trip to India and Vietnam for a series of high-profile meetings aimed at countering China’s influence in the developing world. What are the key takeaways from G20 Summit 2023 and what can make of Biden's messaging abroad? For a better analysis, we're joined by Trisha Craig, Vice President (Engagement) and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Sociology and Political Science), Yale-NUS College.

Laptops, computers and phones – they are among the items that have shrunk in size over time as consumers demand items that are smaller, more portable and perhaps cheaper.  But besides our daily consumer goods, did you know that even satellites are getting smaller too?  Not only are satellites getting smaller, they also need to fly closer to the Earth to collect better quality data to power industries such as maritime, aviation and even banking.  To do so, satellite companies now need smaller, low power and efficient, engines, and that’s exactly what our guest for today does. Founded in 2018, Aliena is a spin-off from the Nanyang Technological University that creates propulsion engines to allow satellites to fly closer to the Earth.  Question is – why do satellites need to fly closer to the Earth in the first place and to what extent has this got to do with the cost of satellite deployment? Meanwhile, the firm’s propulsion engines hitched a ride on a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket last year. Its engines were deployed this year as well in a separate space mission. But what can we expect from the firm next? On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed the questions to Dr Mark Lim, Co-founder and CEO, Aliena.

Singapore stocks dipped today after global markets mostly finished lower overnight. In early trade, Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.1 per cent to 3,222.73 points after 54 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch today, we have Thailand-listed Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods), after UOB Kay Hian (UOBKH) upgraded its call on CP Foods from “hold” to “buy” . Elsewhere from the Fed’s latest beige book out last night to Apple grappling with a turmoil days before its iPhone 15 launch, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Sunny Soh, Lead Technical Analyst (Capital Markets & Investor Education), SIAS.

Can you imagine that the Moon may support a population of 1,000 with over 10,000 people visiting each year by 2040?  How about having the moon support industries such as construction, energy, steel procurement, communications, transportation, and even tourism and medicine? It may seem a little out of reach at this point in time, but that is the belief of our guest for today ispace.  Founded in 2010, ispace is a global lunar resource development company that specialises in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. It was also the first space startup to go public via an IPO in Japan this year. The firm aims to extend the sphere of human life into space by providing high-frequency, low-costs transportation services to the moon.  In particular, ispace US was part of a team awarded a contract to land on the far side of the Moon by 2025. Aside from transportation, ispace was also tasked by various space agencies to collect lunar regolith and extract water on the Moon.  So far, the firm has more than 200 employees worldwide, with offices in Japan, Luxembourg and the US. But what is the value of space exploration, and to what extent does Singapore have a role in this emerging lunar economy?  On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Jenna Tiwana, Senior Business Development and Strategy Advisor,  ispace inc for more.

Singapore stocks dipped at the open after global markets finished lower overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.1 per cent to 3,220.65 points with 22 million securities changing hands then. In terms of companies to watch, we have  mm2 Asia, after mainboard-listed media company said it agreed to subscribe for HK$19 million (S$3.3 million) worth of bonds issued by concert organiser Unipact Entertainment and Productions.  Elsewhere from TSMC’s mulling an investment in chip designer Arm Holdings to China’s export slump easing in August and the US service sector, more international news remains in focus. On Market View, the Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

This conversation is set to pique your interest if you’re a grocery shopper or a foodie. On that note, have you ever read the back of a food label packaging and wonder what exactly is this ingredient called the chicken extract that is packed with umami flavour?  Or have you opened a bag of barbecue flavoured chips and wonder what’s behind that rich and smoky flavour?  Or perhaps – what are milk proteins and milk protein concentrates and how do they make the food and drinks we consume more nutritious?  With over five decades of history, Kerry Taste and Nutrition is an Ireland headquartered food company offering taste and nutrition solutions for some of the world’s best known FMCG and pharmaceutical brands.  The firm currently has over 22,000 employees and over 150 innovation and manufacturing centres in over 30 countries. But what is the role of Kerry’s presence in Singapore in its wider portfolio? Meanwhile, Kerry Taste and Nutrition recently reported its half year results where both sales volumes and pricing went up at the same time. How was this achieved given how its clients or FMCG players are struggling with balancing price increases and falling demand amid high inflation? On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to  John Cahalane, President and CEO for Kerry Taste and Nutrition Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.

Singapore shares were pulled into positive territory today, bucking a global selloff on Wall Street and Europe amid cautious investor trading. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.5 per cent to 3,242.28 points after 30.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  Meanwhile, international headlines are in focus today with all eyes on markets in Greater China after property giant Country Garden paid interest on two different dollar bonds, and its spillover impact on Evergrande and the broader market. Also on the table today, how Denmark’s Novo Nordisk became Europe’s most valuable company by market value. On Market View, Drive Time’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Ken Shih, Head of Wealth Management, Greater China, SAXO Markets. 

The adoption of digital solutions within the construction industry is at the heart of our conversation today.  Founded in 2014, our guest Novade develops cloud and mobile applications for construction companies to use in work sites. The applications streamline work processes such as quality control, safety inspections and workforce management and reduce the paperwork needed in construction projects.  Novade currently operates in over 20 countries with a user base of over 150,000 people. Some of its customers include big names such as Samsung C&T, CapitaLand and Lendlease. The company is reportedly seeing growing demand for its services as the industry increasingly recognises the importance of digitalisation.  Looking ahead, Novade wants to expand its footprint in APAC by first tackling top developers in APAC before moving down the value chain to acquire SME clients. But how efficient is this strategy for the firm financially?  It also set its sights in Africa to tap the continent’s rapid urbanisation, especially in Ghana, Ivory Coast and South Africa – but what are the opportunities exactly?  On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Denis Branthonne, CEO and Co-Founder, Novade.

Singapore stocks opened weaker today as index counters started the morning mostly in negative territory. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) headed down 0.3 per cent to 3,229.79 points after 39.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we haveDasin Retail Trust, after the trust  received a notice declaring that an event of default has occurred under its onshore syndicated term loan facility of up to 400 million yuan (S$74.6 million). Meanwhile, from more on Country Garden to the Reserve Bank of Australia holding rates steady - more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked these developments with Eddy Loh, Chief Investment Officer, Maybank Group Wealth Management.

Acquiring talent in the fast growing consumer market of ASEAN – that’s what we are going to talk about in this segment today.  With over 5,100 branches across 60 countries around the world, our guest is leading workforce solutions company Adecco.  The Switzerland-based firm provides a comprehensive range of workforce solutions and consulting services which includes junior to mid-level talent acquisition, temporary staffing, outsourcing, as well as jobs training and reskilling. The Fortune 500 company connects over 700,000 people with job opportunities that make the most out of their skills every given day.  Closer to home, Adecco has a strong presence in major markets within the ASEAN region, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Take Singapore for instance, the Fortune 500 company established its presence in 1985 and currently helps over 1,400 people in new careers each year.  With ASEAN as a trade bloc being one of the top 5 economies in the world, what will this mean in terms of staffing needs and what growth opportunities does this present for Adecco?  How is the firm upskilling workers to navigate structural changes in major ASEAN economies? And how do such structural changes increase the value of a recruitment firm like Adecco?  On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter posed these questions to Betul Genc, SVP and Head of ASEAN, Adecco.