Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The STI opened higher at 4,315 points but closed down 0.2% at 4,302 as early momentum faded. Across Asia, markets were mixed after the Fed’s rate shift, with eyes on an upcoming Trump-Xi call. Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.59% after the BOJ held rates steady, while Taiwan is poised to overtake South Korea in GDP per capita as early as 2025. What do these signals mean for investors? And where might the next opportunities or risks emerge? On Market View, Nadiah Koh breaks down these developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education at SIAS.

Airport workers at 15 major hubs in South Korea, including Incheon and Gimpo, will begin a nationwide strike tomorrow that could stretch through Oct 9, overlapping with the peak Chuseok holiday rush. The dispute centers on exhaustion, safety concerns, and calls for improved shift schedules. Airlines are already bracing for widespread delays and cancellations that could hit millions of passengers. Just how big will this strike be, and how badly might it disrupt travel? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr. Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser at Pacific Research Center of Malaysia and Senior Fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, to find out more. 

Singapore’s equity market is buzzing with activity. The MAS has rolled out a S$5 billion Equity Market Development Programme, aiming to boost liquidity and attract investors, but what does it really mean for valuations and market confidence? Momentum in some stocks is rising, yet the balance between technical signals and fundamental value remains a puzzle. Which stocks are poised for longer-term uptrends? How should investors blend technical momentum with fundamentals in their decision-making? And in a market with concentrated value opportunities, what’s the best approach to diversification?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Lim Siew Khee, Deputy Group Head of Research and Head of Research for Singapore at CGS International and Chua Wei Ren CMT, Technical Analyst, CGS International Securities Singapore, to find out more.

Stick ’Em is a hands-on STEAM education platform that makes learning accessible, affordable, and fun for kids everywhere. Using simple chopstick-based robotics kits and an online academy, Stick ’Em empowers students to build hundreds of creations ranging from catapults and hydroponic farms to bomb-disposal robots, while encouraging creativity with everyday materials like cardboard, string, and bottles. Designed for scale, Stick ’Em allows teachers with little or no STEAM experience to run engaging, self-guided lessons stress-free. With over 10,000 students and 1,200 teachers across 11 countries, Stick ’Em is proving that problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability can be taught anywhere, without expensive equipment or high-tech labs. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kai, Founder, Stick 'Em, to find out more.

Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI) opened lower in early trade, as investors reacted to caution stemming from the US Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut since December 2024.  Among key stocks, DBS, OCBC and UOB fell between 0.6-1%. This comes as current rate pressures and sector rotation weighed on the counters. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index rose around 1% to a fresh record in early trade.  On Market View, Willie Keng speaks to David Chow, Director of Azure Capital, to find out more about the latest market developments. 

Today we’re going to dive deep into a company which plays an instrumental role in the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital Sectors. With over 83,000 employees dotted across five continents, our guest Thales provides solutions, services and products to help companies, organisations and governments carry out their critical missions.  Think about air traffic management, training and simulation to even in-flight entertainment solutions used in the aerospace industry.  Or signals intelligence, electronic warfare and collaborative combat systems for the defence and security industry.  Or even satellite-based systems to help scientists observe our planet and better optimise the use of our solar system’s resources. Beyond that, the firm is also looking at identity management and data protection technologies that help banks exchange funds, people cross borders and energy become smarter and even more.  Why are we speaking to Thales you might ask? Well, the firm had in July 2025 raised its sales forecast for the year of 2025 while posting better first-half sales and profit.  Thales’ adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or adjusted EBIT, came in at 1.248 billion euros, up 12.7% on the year on an organic basis. The strong showing was driven by strong sales growth in its aerospace and defence segment, and came on the back of increased military spending in Europe.    But how far can the positive momentum be sustained, and how far will US tariffs throw a spanner in the works? What role will Asia and Singapore play in Thales’ playbook for the future?  Speaking of Singapore, the firm said in May 2025 that it will launch a new artificial intelligence centre, called cortAIx, in the country to develop AI solutions for critical environments.  It also inked an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to launch an International Avionics Lab in 2026. But what should we know about the moves, and how important are they to longer-term growth for Thales as a whole? On Under the Radar Specials, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Emily Tan, CEO & Country Director, Thales Singapore.

Want to help rent out a flat?  Criminal syndicates pushing illegal e-vaporisers are hunting for exactly that, young people willing to rent rooms as secret storage.  When raids happen, it’s the tenant who takes the fall. So how do these schemes actually work? The Straits Times went undercover to speak to the advertisers to find out. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Andrew Wong, Correspondent, The Straits Times, to find out more.

Singapore is on the brink of one of its largest intergenerational wealth transfers. Younger high-net-worth families are rethinking legacy planning, balancing tradition with modern investment strategies, and exploring new ways to safeguard and grow their wealth. What trends are shaping this transfer, and which strategies are redefining how wealth is passed on? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ray Ang, Singapore CEO of Grandtag Financial Consultancy, to find out more.

Would you leave a distinguished career in the civil service to redesign what a ‘good life’ means in Singapore? Three female founders have done just that to establish a development studio that helps young people step off Singapore’s achievement treadmill and design lives of greater meaning. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Clarice Song and Hong Ruoyi, Co-Founders of Bold at Work, to find out more.

Singapore stocks opened higher this morning, despite Asian markets trading mixed as investors await the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting, where it is expected to cut interest rates.  The Benchmarket STI closed lower -0.3% at 4,323 points The Asian benchmark this week also surpassed its previous all-time high set in early 2021, helped by a weaker dollar and a strong AI outlook. While analysts say current forecasts are too optimistic, many are also cautious about the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes. What are the risks investors should note and how will potential interest rate cuts influence Asia stocks? On Market View, Willie Keng unpacks all these developments with Too Jun Cheong, Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.