Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Temasek hit a record S$434 billion in portfolio value, up more than 11% in a single year, earlier this year. But what’s behindTemasek’s success and what can everyday investors learn from it? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Steve Alain Lawrence, CIO of Balfour Capital Group, to find out more.

Bunjang is a South Korean recommerce platform, connecting buyers and sellers to a wide range of secondhand and collectible items. From rare K-pop merchandise and limited-edition fashion to heritage-inspired lifestyle products, Bunjang makes it easy for fans and collectors around the world to discover, buy, and sell authentic Korean goods. With the launch of Global Bunjang, the platform is expanding internationally, bringing curated Korean culture to markets like Singapore and helping global users access hard-to-find treasures in a trusted, secure, and community-driven environment. The platform features a proprietary authenticity verification system, Corelytics, which ensures that collectibles and luxury items are genuine, while curated discovery tools help users find rare or trending items suited to their interests. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dennis Yeum, Corporate Communication Manager, Bunjang, to find out more.  

Singapore shares dipped today, tracking declines in most Asian markets. The Straits Times Index was down 0.2% at 4,435.25 points at 1.27pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$839.39M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have China Aviation Oil, after China’s largest oil refiner, Sinopec, is said to be in discussions to take over the nation’s dominant distributor of jet fuel.  The tie-up talks between Sinopec and China National Aviation Fuel were initiated by Beijing. China National Aviation Fuel balances domestic supplies by importing or exporting cargoes through trading arms including China Aviation Oil, of which it owns 51 per cent.  Elsewhere, from how Australia’s central bank held its key interest rate steady in a widely anticipated decision, to how South Korea will triple spending on artificial intelligence and make its biggest defence budget increase in six years, more international headlines remain in focus. Plus – how ChatGPT-maker OpenAI signed a US$38 billion deal with Amazon’s AWS cloud computing arm.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Dan Chang, Investment Specialist and Trading Representative, PhillipCapital.

Guaranteed admission for a fee? That’s the pitch some so-called study-abroad agents on Chinese social media are using to lure students into paying for fake promises. Now, Singapore’s top universities, NUS and NTU, are warning prospective applicants to beware of these fraudulent schemes that claim to secure fast-track entry into their postgraduate programmes. So what’s really going on behind these 'guaranteed' offers, and how are universities here fighting back? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Eugene Tan, Professor of law at Singapore Management University, to find out more.

Gold has tumbled from record highs above US$4,300 to around US$4,076, yet analysts remain bullish, forecasting prices could hit US$4,800 within the year. So, what’s behind this optimism, and what does it mean for investors? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Priyanka Sachdeva, Senior Market Analyst, Phillip Nova, to find out more.

EYO Singapore is a food-tech company dedicated to redefining nutrition with clean, allergy-friendly solutions. Founded by Sho Chen, who was inspired by his personal health journey, EYO develops innovative nutritional drinks designed to be hypoallergenic, gut-friendly, diabetic-friendly, vegan, and halal-certified. Its flagship product, EYO 1, is a convenient powdered drink made with pea protein and allulose, delivering essential nutrients, fibre, and satiety in seconds. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Sho Chen, Founder of EYO Singapore, to find out more. 

Singapore shares inched higher today, tracking positive movements seen in Asia. The Straits Times Index was up 0.43% at 4,447.66 points at 2.36pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$968.93M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Jardine Matheson, after the London-listed conglomerate said in a bourse filing today that it intends to repurchase up to US$250 million worth of shares under a proposed share buyback scheme.  Elsewhere, from how shares of supermarket operator Sheng Siong hit an all-time high, to how business surveys showed Asia’s big manufacturing hubs struggling to fire up in October, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – from fried chicken stocks to big technology players – all about the impact of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to South Korea. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

834 days. That’s how long Nicky Melvin Singh’s comeback took - a journey through surgery, self-doubt and national service. Now back on the pitch and back on the scoresheet, he joins Sports Minutes to share lessons on resilience, mindset and rediscovering the joy of football. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Big changes are coming to Singapore’s digital media scene. The New Paper known for its bold headlines and punchy stories is officially merging with citizen journalism platform STOMP. The result: a refreshed STOMP website that promises to blend the best of both worlds — sharp reporting and real, everyday voices. The revamp aims to draw in a younger generation of readers with a more dynamic look, faster site, and interactive features like polls and bite-sized explainers — all while keeping the spirit of community storytelling alive. So what can readers expect from this new chapter? How will it look, feel, and sound different? And what does “Real. Vocal. Impactful.” — the site’s new tagline — really mean in practice? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Joy Fang, Editor, Stomp, to find out more.

Iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Cartier are facing slowing sales and falling share prices, but is this the end of an era or just a temporary pause? A new Morningstar report suggests it’s cyclical, not structural, and for savvy investors, that could mean opportunity. The big questions: how to reignite Chinese demand, appeal to younger shoppers, and spot the best investment plays in luxury right now. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jelena Sokolova, Senior Equity Analyst, Morningstar, to find out more.