Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares moved higher today amid a winning day in Asia. The Straits Times Index was up 1.08% at 4,344.16 points at 2.00pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.02B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Frasers Property given how its chief executive officer of emerging markets, Asia, Lim Hua Tiong, will assume the additional role of CEO of Frasers Property (Thailand) effective from Oct 1, 2025.  Meanwhile, from a record day on Wall Street after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revised down the number of new jobs in the 12 months through March by a record 911,000, to how DBS shares hit an all time high to boost the STI to a record, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Audrey Ho, Investment Counselor, Citigold Private Client, Citibank Singapore.

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore. Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.  MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.  In the second of three interviews, she spoke with Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist of S&P Global Commodity Insights , who gave an overview of the energy transition and net zero efforts in the global industry and the marketplace.  The duo also talked about what the energy mix will look like by the end of the decade, and whether the widespread use of nuclear power for data centres can be a reality.

Chinese equities are cheap, volatile, and full of potential, especially with the AI boom reshaping markets. Fullerton Fund Management, together with Da Cheng, has just launched a new fund to capture these opportunities.  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Grace Yeo, Head of Investment, CIO Office, of Fullerton Fund Management,to find out more about where the real growth stories in China lie and how investors can navigate the risks.

Singapore’s hiring optimism for Q4 2025 has weakened, falling below the global average as employers adopt a cautious approach amid economic uncertainties, according to data released by ManpowerGroup. While nearly half of companies plan to maintain current staffing levels, sectors such as transport, logistics, and automotive, along with healthcare and life sciences, show resilience with stronger employment outlooks. Smaller firms are driving optimism, whereas industries like IT, finance, and real estate experience notable declines, reflecting broader shifts in the job market and challenges in attracting qualified talent. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ives Tay, Independent Workforce Development Consultant, to explore what’s driving Singapore’s weakening hiring optimism in Q4 2025 and how companies and policymakers can respond to support sustained employment growth across sectors.

IPC Group Singapore is a leading travel company with over 27 years of experience in designing community-based and sustainable tourism experiences. Specializing in immersive programmes for schools, corporate clients, and volunteer groups, IPC Group goes beyond traditional tourism to create trips that are authentic, impactful, and socially responsible. They’re also guided by the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the company carefully crafts each programme to deliver meaningful benefits for both travelers and host communities. And with a network of partners and destinations across Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa, IPC Group Singapore combines deep expertise, ethical engagement, and a commitment to sustainability, offering travelers the opportunity to explore the world while contributing to real-world change. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Raj Kumar, Managing Director, IPC Group Singapore, to find out more.

Singapore shares fell today, as all eyes remained on the upcoming US inflation prints out mid-week. The Straits Times Index was down 0.41% at 4,291.04 points at 2.14pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$830.22M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Thakral. That’s as the company hopes to benefit from the proposed London listing of Project Glow Topco, which is the parent of UK-based The Beauty Tech Group. Thakral holds a 9.32 per cent effective interest in The Beauty Tech Group. Elsewhere, from movements in Asia amid political uncertainties in Japan and in Indonesia, to MetaOptics surging 25 per cent on its Catalist debut on the SGX, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, the Nasdaq’s record close, and how Tencent is reportedly considering its first public debt offering in four years, this time, targeting the dim sum market.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities.

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore. Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.  MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.  In the first of three interviews, she spoke with Dave Ernsberger, co-President of S&P Global Commodity Insights,  who gave a summary of the key APPEC discussion topics and the overall macro energy outlook amid the current geopolitical backdrop.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced he is stepping down after less than a year in the role, following two major election losses. The move comes a day before his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was expected to vote on whether to hold an internal leadership vote that could have forced him out. The LDP has governed Japan for most of the past seven decades, but under Ishiba it lost its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years and then lost its majority in the upper house in July. Was Ishiba’s resignation inevitable? Who could replace him as Japan’s next prime minister? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Stephen Nagy, Professor of Politics & International Studies at the International Christian University, to find out more. 

As global biotech investment patterns shift, investors are turning their eyes to Asia-Pacific. While China remains a powerhouse, emerging hubs like Singapore and South Korea are quickly gaining attention for their political stability, strong IP protection, and innovation-friendly policies. Why are APAC biotech markets suddenly so appealing to investors? And how are these emerging hubs reshaping the future of global biotech innovation? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Fabio La Mola, Partner at Bain & Company,to find out more.

PEXX is a borderless USD neo-bank built for the global generation. It gives anyone, anywhere full access to USD accounts - no U.S. residency, no branches, no endless paperwork. By combining stablecoins with the security of the U.S. Treasuries, PEXX enables seamless transfers, instant payments, and daily interest on USD balances. Designed for freelancers, digital nomads, expats, and globally-minded businesses, PEXX solves the problems traditional banks and crypto platforms overlook: fast, compliant access to spendable dollars across borders, without hidden fees or delays. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Marcus Lim, Founder, PEXX, to find out more.