Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Offshore wind is no longer just a breeze on the horizon, it’s becoming a financial storm. With the sector set to add nearly 19 gigawatts of new capacity by 2025 and $80 billion in investments pouring in, investors are asking: what’s fueling this surge, how can you get a piece of the action, and could offshore wind soon become a mainstream investment opportunity? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Umang Mehrotra, Senior Analyst, Offshore wind research, Rystad Energy, to find out more.

Roblox and education rarely share the same sentence until Ottodot came along. Founded in Singapore, Ottodot bridges gameplay and pedagogy by turning math and science lessons into immersive learning adventures inside Roblox. Its platform is designed around the Singapore MOE syllabus and led by trained educators, creating a safe, engaging environment where kids learn through inquiry, exploration, and collaboration. With over 300% year-on-year growth and backing from top investors, Ottodot is pioneering a new frontier where gaming and learning go hand in hand. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Le Yi Khor, Co-founder & CEO, Ottodot, to find out more.

Singapore shares moved higher today, tracking gains seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 1.4% at 4,478.76 points at 2.02pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.75B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have DBS. The Singapore lender posted today a net profit for the third quarter ended Sep 30, 2025, that declined 2 per cent to S$2.95 billion, compared with S$3.03 billion in the same year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from what a jump in US private payrolls and scepticism over the legality of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs mean for investors, to how shares of Chinese self-driving startups Pony.AI and WeRide tumbled on their Hong Kong debuts, 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. 

Fashion is an art, but it is also big business. And our guest for today H&M Group has proven that the two can coexist at scale.  Since opening its first store nearly eight decades ago in 1947, the Swedish fashion giant has evolved to a network of over 4,000 stores across 79 markets, with online sales available in 60 markets.  The company prides itself on a simple promise: making great and sustainable designs available to everyone. Fast forward to 2025, and H&M is seeing strong momentum. In September, the firm reported a bigger than expected rise in third-quarter profit.  Operating profit from June to August came in at 4.91 billion Swedish crowns (or about US$523 million). That’s up from the 3.51 billion seen a year ago, and well above the 3.68 billion crowns forecasted by analysts in an LSEG poll.  The numbers come as CEO Daniel Erver embarked on an overhaul of the brand to improve profitability through trendier collections, tighter cost controls and a refreshed marketing strategy.  But even as H&M celebrates its early success, the broader business environment is shifting.  US tariffs are weighing on imports to and consumption within the US – the retailer’s second largest market after Germany.  So how far would that make Asia a bright spot for growth for H&M, and how does H&M intend to compete with other big name players such as Inditex’s Zara, Fast Retailing’s Uniqlo and even e-commerce first players like Shein and Temu? And perhaps more importantly – which Asian markets hold the greatest promise for the next chapter of H&M’s growth given China’s uneven economic recovery? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Saed El-Achkar, President H&M East Asia & Greater China.

From phishing texts to fake job offers, scams have quietly drained billions from Singapore over the years. Now, the response is anything but quiet.  A sweeping new law introduces caning for scammers and money mules, a dramatic escalation in the fight against digital crime.  But as Parliament turns up the heat, questions emerge: will harsher punishment truly deter scams  or does this mark a new chapter in Singapore’s justice system? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mark Yeo, Director, Fortress Law Corporation, to find out more. 

Asia REITs surged in September, led by Singapore and Australia, fueled by strong property fundamentals, lower interest costs, and attractive yields. The Manulife Asia Pacific REIT Fund has seen a ~20% year-to-date gain, with retail and diversified REITs at the forefront. What’s driving this rally, which sectors are leading, and what lies ahead for investors in the region? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Derrick Heng, Director, Portfolio Manager, Equities, at Manulife Investment Management, to find out more.

Sqkii is a gamification marketing company that connects brands with gamers to drive exceptional ROI for brands while delivering engaging rewards to gamers. Born and raised in Singapore, Sqkii specialises in creating viral, game-based campaigns that solve real-world challenges from increasing sales and app downloads to encouraging healthy habits and active lifestyles. Known for bold and playful activations like #HuntTheMouse, Sqkii combines creativity, strategy, and a deep understanding of gamer culture to craft campaigns that are not only effective but genuinely fun. By partnering with brands, Sqkii transforms marketing into an engaging experience that captivates audiences, drives participation, and creates lasting impact. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kenny Choy, CEO & Co-founder, Sqkii, to find out more.  

Singapore shares dipped today to track declines seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was down 0.33% at 4,408.27 points at 1.49pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.33B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have SIA Engineering, after the company posted a 13.5 per cent improvement in net profit to S$40.4 million for the second quarter ended September.  Elsewhere, from more on the major sell-off seen in Asia today, to how China said it would extend the suspension of an additional 24 per cent tariff on US goods for one year, keeping a 10 per cent blanket tariff in place, more international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kelvin Wong, Senior Analyst, OANDA.

A new name, a bold dream - and just 12 months to make it happen. American outift Cadillac are going full throttle toward their 2026 Formula 1 debut. From star signings to behind-the-scenes with Keanu Reeves, Sports Minutes sits down with CEO Dan Towriss to learn about how this team plans to shake up the grid, one lap at a time. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/f1s-newbies-cadillac-want-to-hit-the-ground-running-in-2026 Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

The courtroom drama isn’t over for Pritam Singh. The Workers’ Party chief is back in court, appealing his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee. His defence says crucial evidence was ignored. But how did the appeal play out today, and what could this mean for Singapore’s political landscape? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst, Solaris Strategies Singapore, for a breakdown of what went down in court.