Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

It’s official - 35-year-old Singaporean Gavin Lee has been named head coach of the Singapore Men’s National Team, just a week after guiding the Lions to historic Asian Cup qualification. Fresh off signing an 18-month deal that takes him through the 2026 Asean Championship and the 2027 Asian Cup, Gavin joins Sports Minutes to discuss his rise from interim to in-charge, from failed footballer to in-demand tactician, and from managing Tampines to taking on the biggest job in Singapore football. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5F3j38Vuo9k?si=AL5GUQZFI2-pvV05 Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Hong Kong experienced its deadliest high-rise fire in decades when a massive blaze swept through multiple residential towers clad in bamboo scaffolding, rapidly engulfing entire floors and trapping hundreds of residents inside. The fire broke out in one of the city’s densely built districts, where narrow gaps between buildings made it difficult for firefighters to gain access and aim their hoses effectively. Some residents, visibly shaken, described watching the fire tear through the towers from overhead bridges, while others avoided the media altogether, overwhelmed by the trauma and uncertainty that followed the catastrophe. On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Magdalene Fung, Hong Kong Correspondent, The Straits Times, to share her on-the-ground observations and insights into the city’s response, the challenges faced by rescue teams, and the community’s efforts to support those affected.

In Cambodia, smallholder farmers are struggling with depleted soils that make it harder each year to grow enough food. At the same time, the country’s rice industry produces mountains of husks that often end up as waste. HUSK Ventures saw possibility in this problem—transforming rice husks into a regenerative soil solution. Their approach has already boosted yields by 30% across 250 farms, and they aim to uplift 100,000 farmers by 2030 while sequestering millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Ingrid van Ginkel, Managing Director of HUSK Ventures, to find out how HUSK blends ancient wisdom, modern science, and circular innovation to tackle both poverty and climate change.

AI has officially become every young investor’s go-to financial advisor in Singapore—literally 100% of them, according to new findings from Blackbox Research. From stock picks to portfolio planning, AI has shifted from being a helpful tool to a trusted decision-maker. But what does this mean for traditional banks and financial advisors who’ve long depended on personal relationships? And is AI truly as reliable as we think, or are we placing too much faith in algorithms? On Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks with Glenn Wray, Head of Strategy and Marketing at Blackbox Research, to unpack the trends, the risks, and what this shift means for the future of investing.

Singapore shares inched higher today to track gains seen in Asia. The Straits Times Index was up 0.39% at 4,519.06 points at 2.14pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$531.05M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have IHH Healthcare, after the healthcare company yesterday posted a net profit of RM616 million (S$194.3 million) for its third quarter ended Sep 30, a 15 per cent increase from RM534 million in the year before.  Elsewhere, from how South Korea’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged as widely expected, to how Intel denied allegations by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) that one of its executives, Lo Wei-Jen, who formerly worked at the Taiwanese chipmaker, had leaked trade secrets – more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital.

As Singapore shifts firmly back into the office, most employees are meeting return-to-office mandates with surprising optimism. But beneath that upbeat surface, new surveys reveal a widening gap between what workers expect — and what companies are actually offering. Nearly 7 in 10 employees now face fixed in-office days, and while 63% say they feel positive about the move, many still lack the flexibility they value most. So what does this mean for companies trying to retain talent? On The Big Story, Alexandra Parada speaks to Ives Tay, Independent Workforce Development Consultant, to find out more. 

Singapore and Hong Kong are quietly building what could be Asia’s most important financial infrastructure: a regulated token corridor. Linking tokenised assets, stablecoins, and real-world assets across borders, this corridor could transform how money moves, how transactions settle, and how institutions interact globally. But what does a token corridor actually look like? What assets can it move, how does it tackle cross-border challenges, and could it put Asia at the forefront of digital finance? On Wealth Tracker, Alexandra Parada speaks to Ryan Kirkley, CEO & Co-founder of GSN, to find out more.

If you’ve ever savored a kueh that’s soft, colorful, and just a little bit magical, there’s a good chance it came from Kueh Ho Jiak. What started as a home hobby has grown into a heritage-recognized brand, celebrated for its creativity, quality, and charm. On The Right Business, Alexandra Parada speaks to Sandy Tan, Founder of Kueh Ho Jiak, to hear how passion and heart can turn a simple love of traditional treats into a business that preserves and elevates Singapore’s kueh heritage.  

Singapore shares rose today, tracking gains seen in broader Asian markets. The Straits Times Index was up 0.64% at 4,514.15 points at 2.21pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$770.33M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Seatrium, after the marine engineering company today announced that it has been awarded a contract from BP Exploration and Production for the engineering, procurement, construction and onshore commissioning of the Tiber floating production unit in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed the Gulf of America by US President Donald Trump. Elsewhere, from how a round of tepid US data reinforced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, to how Singapore’s factory output jumped 29.1 per cent year on year in October on the back of a surge in pharmaceutical manufacturing, more economic headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Too Jun Cheong, Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.

With Singapore football riding high after THAT famous night in Hong Kong, the Lion Cubs now step into the spotlight. Head Coach of the Men's Under-22 team, Firdaus Kassim breaks down how the his charges are aiming to exorcise the ghosts of 2023, rebuild belief, and push towards a SEA Games campaign that could shape the nation’s footballing future. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg