Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

All eyes are fixed on Anchorage, Alaska and the putative summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders will discuss a possible deal to end the war in Ukraine when they meet on Aug 15 in  for a meeting that is also likely to affect wider European security. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes. What kind of deal could emerge? What’s possible, what’s not? And could this summit shift the course of the war? On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks with Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific, to find out more. 

Asia-Pacific real estate is defying the odds. Despite tariff tensions and global uncertainty, investment volumes are climbing and foreign capital is flooding back in. What’s behind the momentum, and which sectors are leading the charge? On Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks to Christine Li, Head of Research, Asia-Pacific, Knight Frank, to break down the latest insights from Knight Frank’s Q2 2025 report.

China reported a slowdown in economic activity, with factory output rising 5.7% year-on-year in July, the slowest pace in eight months, and retail sales increasing just 3.7%, the weakest since December 2024, signaling a softer-than-expected recovery. Meanwhile, Japan’s economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter, with GDP rising 1.0% annualized, boosted by resilient exports and stronger-than-anticipated capital expenditure. Private consumption increased modestly by 0.2%, reflecting steady domestic demand even as global uncertainties, including U.S. tariffs, continue to weigh on the economy. Across the Pacific, U.S. inflationary pressures are resurfacing. Producer prices jumped 0.9% month-on-month in July, the largest increase in three years, driven by broad-based gains in both goods and services. On a year-on-year basis, the producer price index rose 3.3%, up from 2.4% in June, underlining persistent inflationary pressures that could influence Federal Reserve policy moving forward. On Market View, Alexandra Parada speaks to  Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education at SIAS, to discuss more about the latest market movements.

Gourmaze is changing the way we explore food and the hidden gems of our own city, one puzzle at a time. It’s a walking food trail that’s part adventure, part history lesson, and all about supporting local. It was born in the UK, during the Covid-19 lockdown, when people were looking for new ways to break up the monotony. Fast forward to today, Gourmaze has grown into a million-dollar business.  On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Holly Mennear and Anish Malhan, Co-Founders, Gourmaze, to find out more.

Popular Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao is closing its flagship Singapore outlet in Clarke Quay on Aug 31 as its lease expires. The impending closure of the Clarke Quay outlet follows Haidilao’s recent shuttering of three suburban restaurants – in Bedok, Pasir Ris and Punggol – after a period of rapid expansion. Is Haidilao losing its dominance here? What does this mean for other F&B giants in Singapore? Are we just seeing a reshuffle or is the dining landscape in for a bigger shake-up? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Debbie Yong, Founder and Brand Strategist at Atypical Media and Podcast Host and Producer of Turn The Tables, to find out more.

The US dollar has staged a comeback, strengthening notably against the Singapore dollar and reversing a months-long trend of broad weakness. This renewed dollar strength, driven by resilient US economic data and sticky inflation, is prompting fresh questions about global capital flows, MAS policy direction, and portfolio strategy in Asia. Analysts now warn that the greenback's climb could ripple through everything from import costs to equity valuations with major implications for investors and markets alike. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sim Moh Siong, Currency Strategist, Bank of Singapore, to find out more.

When Joyce Chung her husband moved to Singapore, he made a passing comment that he couldn’t find a good cinnamon roll here. So, one recipe led to another, and before long, what began in Joyce's home kitchen became Guilt Free Food, a bakery known for its health-conscious treats that do not compromise on flavour. From gluten free mochi muffins to keto-friendly buns, she has carved out a niche in Singapore’s food scene for people who want to indulge mindfully. Now, six years on, she’s taken the leap to open her first physical takeaway bakery in the East Coast. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Joyce Chung, Founder of Guilt Free Food, to find out more.

Singapore shares fell today as investors digest a flurry of earnings out of the country in recent days. The Straits Times Index was down 0.40% at 4,255.79 points at 11.59am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$900.51M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have CapitaLand Investment, after the group today posted net profit of S$287 million for H1 ended June 2025, 13 per cent down from S$331 million in the year-ago period. Elsewhere, from how shares of ST Engineering tumbled 6.4 per cent early on, despite announcing better first-half results, to how Lenovo’s profit beats estimates as firms ramped up on purchases of personal computers ahead of potential new US tariffs, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – a quick look at Foxconn’s latest results as well as how Bitcoin hit a record high on the back of financial reforms and rate cut bets. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

The Singapore Exchange just logged its busiest month in three months, trading liquidity up 44%, small- and mid-cap stocks on fire, and gains across derivatives, ETFs, and commodities. With the Straits Times Index hitting fresh highs, the big question now is: what’s fuelling this surge, and will the momentum carry on? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alvin Chow, investment advisor at iFAST Global Markets and, Co-founder of Dr Wealth, to find out more.

A total of 466 luxury items and 58 pieces of gold bars from the $3 billion money laundering case have been handed over by police to professional services firm Deloitte to manage and liquidate. But when such luxury watches, designer handbags, and gold are seized in multi-million-dollar money laundering cases, what actually happens to them?  Who gets to buy these prized assets, and how does the government ensure the process is fair and transparent? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alexander Woon, Counsel, RHTLaw Asia LLP and Provost's Chair and Lecturer, Law Programmes, Singapore University of Social Sciences, to find out more.