Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

High-net-worth families are rethinking their portfolios in 2025. After leaning on private credit for years, many are now turning to physical commodities and tangible assets to hedge against inflation and market swings. Why the shift? What makes real-world assets so appealing? And how are investors navigating today’s tricky mix of inflation, interest rate divergence, and global uncertainty? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Johan Boos, Senior Wealth Manager & Strategic Partnership Manager, Balfour Capital Group, to find out more.

Singapore shares inched higher today as investors continue to mull the global interest rate outlook. The Straits Times Index was up 0.28% at 4,407.67 points at 2.15pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$959.59M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have for you UOL and Singapore Land Group. That’s after the companies announced yesterday the completion of the S$810 million en bloc deal for Thomson View condominium. Elsewhere, from the companies to monitor as the Singapore Grand Prix roars into town, to investors’ pushback on Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s US$1 trillion pay plan – more corporate headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, how DBS Group Holdings’ blistering share rally this year has widened its market value lead over its peer OCBC to a level never seen before. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

It’s race week in Singapore! David Croft, the voice of Formula 1, joins Sports Minutes to preview the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. From Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles to Verstappen’s Marina Bay drought and McLaren’s title charge, Crofty breaks it all down - plus, his podium predictions for F1’s most iconic night race. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Dr Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist and conservationist, has died at the age of 91. From her groundbreaking work in Tanzania that revealed chimpanzees use tools and share deep emotional bonds, to decades spent inspiring people across the globe to protect the natural world, Dr Goodall redefined how we understand our place in nature. Through her research, her advocacy, and her tireless travels, she became a symbol of hope and action. Today, we look back on a life of remarkable curiosity, courage, and compassion. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to MoneyFM's Neil Humphreys, International Best Selling Author and Vice President of Jane Goodall Institute Singapore, to find out more about Dr Jane Goodall, her impact, and the legacy she leaves behind.

Pickleball has exploded onto Singapore’s social scene—and it’s not just happening in the usual gyms or sports halls. The city’s trendiest hotels are now getting in on the action, turning sleek lobbies and courtyards into unexpected playgrounds. But what’s fueling Singapore’s sudden love affair with this fast-moving paddle game? How are hotels reinventing themselves to ride the wave of this sporty lifestyle trend? And could pickleball become the next big thing shaping how the city plays, socializes, and stays active? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kimy Yue, Director of Marketing & Communications at Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, to find out more. 

Singapore is a crypto leader, but new aggressive regulations are shaking up the market. Are investors facing new risks or opportunities? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Anthony Anzalone, founder and CEO of XION, to find out more.

City Square Mall’s transformation is nothing short of radical. 680,000 bamboo chopsticks now line its ceilings and walls. Over a tonne of plastic bottles has been reborn as sleek panels. Four kilometres of salvaged timber live on as cladding and furniture. Here, sustainability isn’t tucked away—it’s front and center, bold and impossible to miss. The mastermind behind this vision? TA.LE Architects. Known for turning everyday materials into striking design, they prove that retail spaces can be both beautiful and sustainable. So—could this be the future of malls everywhere? And what does it take to make green design impossible to ignore? On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Liao Xiji, Associate Director, TA.LE Architects, to find out more. 

Singapore shares moved higher today to track gains seen in Asia. The Straits Times Index was up 1.55% at 4,390.27 points at 11.59am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$869.87M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Yangzijiang Financial, after the investment management company said it has entered into an agreement, along with two of its strategic investors, to lead the restructuring of Chinese lithium battery producer Ningbo Shanshan.  Elsewhere, international headlines continue to remain in focus, from how shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose sharply after forging initial agreements to supply chips to OpenAI’s Stargate project, to what job losses in the US private sector mean for markets. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

The US has long attracted top global talent, but changes to the H-1B visa are prompting skilled workers to consider other options. Countries like Canada, the UK, and China are quickly adapting to lure them with faster, flexible visa programs. The key question: can Singapore turn these strengths into a competitive advantage for attracting global talent, and what would it mean for its economy and innovation? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Sumit Agarwal, Professor of Finance, Real Estate and Economics at NUS Business School and Managing Director of Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at NUS, to find out more. 

Markets are running hotter, and faster, than almost anyone predicted. Analysts are scrambling, forecasts are breaking, and investors are left asking: if the experts can’t keep up, what chance do the rest of us have? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Danish Lim, Senior Investment Analyst, Phillip Nova, to find out more.