Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares traded in the positive territory today, in line with movements seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.51% at 4,865.95 points at 2.27pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.10B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Singtel, after the local telco last afternoon was hit with more than 9,700 user reports of a disruption on Downdetector, after three consecutive days of issues last week. Elsewhere, from how investors are reading into the mixed signals from the US and Iran on the war in the Middle East, to how Japan’s key inflation gauge slowed more than expected to its weakest pace in nearly four years as utility subsidies cooled energy costs, more international headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck, how Alibaba is launching a new chip for agentic AI and inference computing, adding to a portfolio of semiconductors designed to drive its AI ambitions. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, Head of Consumer & Internet, Aletheia Capital.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat, it’s unfolding in real time. Sea levels are creeping higher, heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent, and global supply chains are increasingly strained by extreme weather. At the same time, the world’s attention is pulled in other directions, from geopolitical tensions to ongoing energy crises. So where does that leave Singapore, a low-lying island nation already grappling with rising temperatures and long-term sea level risks?  And how will Singapore plan decades ahead when international cooperation is fragmenting, funding is uncertain, and the impacts of climate change are becoming more unpredictable by the year? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with international freelance climate editor Rachel Kelly, to find out more. 

In just a few months, investors have had to navigate geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, trade uncertainty in the US, and disruptions to global energy supply. And yet, despite all that, global equities actually hit record highs as recently as late February. So are markets brushing off the risks, or are investors simply focusing on the bigger economic picture? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Steve Brice, Global CIO, Standard Chartered, to find out more.

How far is too far when it comes to bosses keeping tabs on employees? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the increasingly invasive world of workplace surveillance, from sensors tracking posture and heart rate to timed toilet breaks.  Then, we hit the road with Will.I.Am’s latest brainchild: Trinity, a city-friendly, AI-powered electric vehicle that doesn’t just drive - it thinks with you. Imagine turning your daily commute into a moving brainstorming session, guided by an AI assistant that’s always learning, observing, and helping you get things done.

Singapore shares dived today to track hefty losses across regional markets. The Straits Times Index was down 2.38% at 4,831.30 points at 2.44pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.76B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Lendlease Global Commercial Reit, after the Reit’s preferential offering of 352.4 million units was only 62.2 per cent subscribed.  Elsewhere, from how Singapore’s core inflation picked up, while headline inflation eased in February, to how owners of luxury brands ranging from Gucci to Fendi and Bulgari opened more stores in Europe last year despite a slowdown in the wider sector, more economic and international headlines remained in focus.  Plus – all about the selloff in Asia today, and how Kpop agency HYBE saw shares drop after boyband BTS’ comeback concert. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Singapore imports more than 90% of its food, yet less than 1% comes from the Middle East. Despite this, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has warned that ongoing conflicts could still drive up food prices through disruptions to global shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Higher fuel and fertilizer costs may increase production and transport expenses, affecting farmers, businesses, and hawkers. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Associate Professor Goh Puay Guan from the National University of Singapore Business School, about how these global pressures are shaping food prices in Singapore.

Conflict in the Middle East is rocking global energy markets. Oil prices are spiking, shipping routes are under threat, and supply chains are stretched to the limit. But what does this mean for your investments, and the future of renewable energy?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to James Koh, Partner, Energy & Natural Resources, Oliver Wyman, to find out more.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into the world of K-pop from fan reactions that spiralled into real-world disruption, to the massive economic power of global superstars. They unpack the fallout from Heeseung’s departure from Enhypen, which escalated from petitions and protest trucks to overwhelming South Korea’s national pension fund lines. Then, they look at BTS’ long-awaited comeback, a return so big it could rival Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, generating billions and boosting entire industries.

Singapore shares fell today as investors continue to mull the impact of the Middle East war on global growth. The Straits Times Index was down 0.55% at 4,940.11 points at 2.18pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.04B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Hongkong Land and Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust, after the property developer acquired a 10.8 per cent stake in the trust, for S$541 million in a bid to grow its presence in Singapore’s prime commercial sector. Elsewhere, from how Alibaba Group declared a target of reaching US$100 billion of cloud and AI-related business revenue in five years, to how the Indian rupee fell past the 93 per dollar level for the first time today, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the key developments to watch for the day.

Jordan Webb, remember him? He arrived as a fleet-footed winger from Canada in 2010, and spent close to a decade making a mark in the Singapore Premier League - most notably for Tampines Rovers. 6 years since departing in fairly abrupt circumstances, he sits down with Sports Minutes to tell us how close he came to representing his "second home", his regrets on never achieving that goal and how a failing marriage forced him to return back to Canada in 2020. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg