Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Having lost the most part of 2023 due to an injury, Ikhsan Fandi tells us all about the lessons he learnt that has equipped him with fresh new vigour for 2024. He also weighs in on his aims, aspirations & resolutions for the year ahead. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks were pulled into positive territory today following overnight gains on global equity markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) headed up 0.3 per cent to 3,195.18 points after 31.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Yanlord Land Group, after the Chinese property developer expects to record net losses for the six months, as well as the full year ended Dec 31, 2023. Elsewhere, from healthcare giants J&J, Merck and Boston Scientific going on a US$6.4 billion buying spree, to the outlook for the chip sector in 2024, more international headlines are in focus.  Also on the table, what loose parts found on some 737 MAX mean for planemakers and airlines amid the ongoing global travel recovery. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research at ANZ.

Are New Year’s resolutions still a thing? Apparently so, according to GWI’s latest research more than half (57%) of Singaporeans are still writing their lists in 2024. So what is on top of Singaporeans’ mind in the new year, amid everything that is happening in the world and in the face of an unpredictable economy?  Jo Ling Sun, Senior Trends Analyst, GWI tells us more. 

From President Xi Jinping’s latest solution to boost China’s economy to the possibility of a big shift in China’s policy with regards to Taiwan depending on whoever wins. Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

Today we’re going to bring you an inside look into a mainboard-listed tourism company that bought over the troubled Singapore Flyer back in 2014.  Bingo if you’ve guessed Straco Corporation. Listed on the SGX, Straco Corporation is a local developer and operator of aquatic related facilities and tourism related assets.  Aside from the Singapore Flyer, the firm’s other main operating assets include the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium next to the city’s landmark Oriental Pearl Tower, the Lixing cable car service at Mount Lishan, and the Underwater World Xiamen on the scenic Gulangyu Island.  But  why are the majority of Straco Corporation’s assets situated in China and how has the reliance on a single market weighed on the firm during the pandemic amid the lockdowns we saw in China?  And with the Chinese economy recovers post-pandemic, how are things looking like for Straco Corporation right now? Also – what is on the top of Straco’s to-do-list right now to make up for lost revenues over the past three years or so?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to  Amos Ng, Group Chief Financial Officer and Sean Wu, Senior Vice President (Corporate Development & Risk Management), Straco Corporation.

With the transfer window open, we discuss the potential ins and outs in the Premier League. Will Arsenal get the additional firepower they crave? And will we see the INEOS takeover take effect at Manchester United? Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Are you looking to make a career move in 2024 but not quite sure if it's the right choice?  José Jeuland, an individual whose journey from a professional triathlete to the founder and director of COCO Creative Studio in Singapore is nothing short of inspirational. What's the inspiration behind José's unique journey from pro sportsmans to establishing himself as a prominent figure in Singapore's creative scene? 

The US Congress reached a deal on how much to spend for 2024 ahead of a possible government shutdown. The deal would establish an overall spending level of US$1.59 trillion in fiscal year 2024.  Does this move bring Congress closer to avoiding of a potential government shutdown? How will government spending define the 2024 US election? In this episode of Washington Report,Dr John Donaldson, Associate Professor of Political Science,  School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University explains it all. 

AI marketing has become unavoidable for businesses these days because it facilitates ad targeting optimization, develops customer journey mapping, content creation, and more. But have marketers in Southeast Asia embraced AI the way they should be? How have the perception of AI marketing changed over the years? Kate Liew, Senior Marketing Director, APAC, Vonage explains. 

Singapore stocks opened stronger today,  tracking overnight gains in the European market. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.1 per cent to 3,176.59 points  after 65.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have Dyna-Mac. The offshore oil-and-gas contractor has proposed a bonus issue of up to 207.4 million warrants on the basis of one warrant for every five existing shares to raise up to S$31.1 million.  Elsewhere from more Bank of Japan watchers pushing back their predictions for the end of negative rates, to the outlook for oil prices in the year of 2024, more 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.