Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares began trading in the green as traders returned from a holiday-shortened week. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent to 3,239.56 points after 139.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have  City Developments Limited. That’s after the property developer announced on Thursday that it had acquired a hotel in Osaka, Japan, for 8.5 billion yen (S$78.5 million).  Meanwhile, from Keppel Reit replacing Olam Group on the STI reserve list at the start of business on the 18th of September, to a Goldilocks scenario in the US and Chinese stocks in Hong Kong jumping on further property support measures – more corporate and international 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.

You might have used Fitbit in your daily exercise routines. But did you know factory machines use an equivalent of Fitbit too? In fact, we’re going to talk to a company that offers “Fitbit-for-machines” services using the Internet of Things. In layman terms, the firm offers a scalable digital factory system comprising of hardware equipment that tracks the steps or output, the heart rate or the temperature and mixing speed, as well as the sleeping pattern or the idling time of a machine.  Data collected by the equipment will be automatically analysed with a software to provide factory owners a broad overview of what’s happening on the factory floor and if there are any problems with factory equipment that needs to be solved.   The solutions can be deployed within a matter of days and can help clients achieve up to 10 to 30 per cent gain in productivity, energy or maintenance.  But how does this work exactly, and how does Auk Industries differ from other IoT solutions providers?  Meanwhile, Auk Industries says it serves a wide range of clients ranging from a small Nonya confectionery shop in Bedok to large Fortune 500 companies. Question is – what is it about Auk Industries’ proposition that allow it to cater to the needs of clients with operations that seem vastly different?  On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Samuel Tan, CEO & Cofounder, Auk Industries for more.

Singapore stocks began trading stronger today after global markets ended mixed overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.2 per cent to 3,225.89 points after 45.5 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Olam Group, after it secured a US$1.75 billion multi-tranche sustainability-linked facility through its wholly-owned food ingredients unit OFI.  Meanwhile, from UBS set to absorb Credit Suisse’s domestic bank to news that millions of dollars were reportedly invested in some publicly traded stocks of India’s Adani Group via “opaque” Mauritius funds, and the expectations for the latest US PCE index, more international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, the Drive Time team unpacked these developments with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

Today we’re going to bring you an inside look into a private equity real estate firm that connects real estate to capital markets.  Founded in 2016, Q Investment Partners or QIP is a Singapore-based PE real estate firm that raises funds from institutional investors to buy, develop and sell buildings to generate investment returns. The firm currently manages and executes around US$400 million of investment value, and has some US$1.2 billion worth of real estate investments managed to date.  Its fund level internal rate of return stands at between 13 and 20 per cent. But how does this differ from the industry? What does the firm look out for when evaluating a potential project and deal, and what is its competitive advantage against other players?  Meanwhile, QIP has 15 properties under its belt, with almost all located within Japan and the UK. But why is this the case and what’s next for the company?  Also – how has China’s move to open its property market to PE investors and funds affected industry players?  On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Alexander Bellingham, Director and Head of Sales, QIP.

Singapore stocks started the day on a positive note following overnight gains in the US and Europe markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.4 per cent to 3,236.52 points after 60.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have GuocoLand after the real estate group posted yesterday a 54.5 per cent decline in net profit to S$148 million for the second half-year ended June.  Elsewhere, from Country Garden issuing HK$270 million of shares to pay loans, to the investability of China as well as the outlook on the safe haven gold, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View,  Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Jeremy Tan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tiger Fund Management for more. 

Do you remember the time when you had to scan a QR code to check into malls and to dine in at restaurants?  Well, today we’re going to talk to the company behind the Tracetogether token that has been a huge part of our lives during the pandemic.  Incorporated all the way back in 1999, TraceTogerther maker iWOW is an Internet of Things solutions provider.  Its name stands for Inspiring the World of Wireless, and the firm specialises not only in smart tracking but also in automated meter tracking and the monitoring of utility usage.  iWOW also serves a diverse range of clients, working with the PUB, Jurong Port, Singtel, to even the SMRT, 3M, Coca Cola and Nestle.  So what is next for the firm with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the “standing down” of the use of Tracetogether?  On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Raymond Bo, Founder and CEO, iWOW Technology for more. 

Singapore stocks were pulled into positive territory today after global markets finished higher overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.4 per cent to 3,226.29 points after 27.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we do have Thomson Medical Group after it posted a 66.7 per cent drop in net profit to S$13.8 million for its second half ended June.  Meanwhile, from China slashing stamp duty paid on stock trades for the first time in 15 years, to Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast becoming the third most valuable automaker on earth, more international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked these developments with Toby Gresham, Investment Counselor Team Lead, Citi Private Bank.

This is a conversation that you would love if you’re into Asian-dramas or variety shows – think the likes of your Running Man, Descendants of the Sun and so on.  Our guest for today is Viu, which is a leading pan-regional over-the-top video streaming service operated by billionaire Richard Li’s PCCW.  The firm distributes Asian contents in different genres in local language subtitles, as well as produces original drama series. It is present in 16 markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and even in Middle Eastern and African countries such as Egypt and South Africa.  Viu was launched in Singapore back in 2016, where it was known for making Korean dramas more accessible to pop culture lovers.  But how has the entry of players such as Netflix and Disney+ reshaped the competitive landscape in recent years, especially with some players working with top production studios in South Korea to secure a steady pipeline of drama series? Meanwhile, Viu continues to see strong financial results. According to Media Partners Asia, the firm surpassed Netflix in the number of paid subscribers in Southeast Asia as of the end of June this year. Separately, it also saw an increase of 30% in revenue for the first half ended June, while paid subscribers expanded 21% as well. To what extent is this contributed by Singapore and why? On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Anson Tan, Country Head, Viu Singapore to find out more.

Singapore stocks started the week on a positive note after Wall Street ended its last trading session higher. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.5 per cent to 3,207.09 points after 58.1 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Yangzijiang Shipbuilding being a hot stock of the day at over 12-year highs.  Meanwhile from Hotel Properties Limited’s plan to redevelop the Forum mall to China Evergrade Group slumping as much as 87 per cent in Hong Kong after a 17-month trading halt, more corporate headlines are in focus.  On Market View, the Drive Time team unpacked the developments with Chin Hui Leong, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Today we’re going to talk about the people behind the flats and apartments we live in – the people building our homes that is.  Construction firms, as we know, have been hit by supply chain disruptions and a manpower crunch during the pandemic.  While things are looking up as work resumes and supply chain bottlenecks ease, industry players continue to face challenges such as working with pre-pandemic contracts that do not account for higher material costs. So how are construction companies navigating choppy waters, and how are they adjusting their business strategy to remain financially viable? Let’s pose these questions to our guest Straits Construction. Starting small in 1969, Straits Construction is a builder that got its first breakthrough in 1982, when it built its first Housing and Development Board of HDB project at Serangoon Avenue 4.  Since then, the firm has taken on more public and private projects. Some past projects include the Royal Square at Novena, which houses Courtyard by Marriot Hotel. On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian caught up with Kenneth Loo, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Straits Construction Singapore  for more.