Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares moved higher today even as traders continue to mull news on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was up 0.42% at 4,092.74 points at about 2.38pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$878.99M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Singtel, because the local telecommunications giant’s technology services arm, NCS, will invest S$130 million over the next three years to further its artificial intelligence (AI) development across the Asia-Pacific.  Elsewhere, from the S&P 500 index and the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite hitting fresh peaks despite Trump’s latest tariff salvo, to academics, including an adviser to the People’s Bank of China urging the country to add as much as 1.5 trillion yuan (S$268 billion) in fresh stimulus to boost consumer spending and maintain currency flexibility to counter US tariffs’ drag on growth – more international headlines remain in focus.    On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

The US dollar has long ruled the global financial stage, but that reign is now facing fresh challenges. Rising geopolitical tensions, shifting economic powers, and breakthroughs in financial technology are sparking a quiet yet powerful move away from dollar dominance. With countries and institutions eyeing alternatives like the euro, yuan, and digital currencies, the big question looms: How deep is this shift, and what does it mean for markets and investors worldwide? Is this the beginning of the end for the dollar’s supremacy, or just a new chapter in a familiar story? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gautam Chadda, Head of Strategic Advisory (Asia) at RBC Wealth Management,to find out more. 

For many mid-career professionals or civil servants stepping into digital learning environments, the pressure can feel overwhelming. That emotional weight is exactly what Johnson Ong is helping people unpack. He’s the Founder and Chief Happiness Coach at Living Better, a Singapore-based company that weaves emotional wellbeing and resilience coaching directly into workforce training.  Johnson works closely with adult learners, many of whom are stepping into tech for the first time, to rebuild their confidence and help them feel capable again. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Johnson Ong, Founder and Chief Happiness Coach at Living Better, to find out more.

Sweeping changes are coming to the Singapore Premier League - from a spike in foreign player quotas to the launch of a new reserve league. As Forrest Li begins his FAS presidency, we ask: are these reforms a bold leap forward or a risky gamble for local football?  READ MORE:  FAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quotaFAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quota Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

In the coming decade, six golf courses across the island are set to close, making way for housing and urban redevelopment. That includes Mandai Executive Golf Course — the country’s only public 9-hole facility — which will shut its gates by the end of 2026. In its place? New residential projects and an Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre. Supporters say this is a necessary trade-off in a land-scarce city where housing needs are growing. Critics argue it marks the slow erosion of public access to a sport already seen as elite and exclusive. So what does this shrinking golf footprint mean for Singapore’s urban priorities, sporting future, and socio-economic landscape? Is this a long-overdue reset — or the loss of a shared public good? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Nicholas Fang, Managing Director of sports consultancy Novastella, former Nominated Member of Parliament and former national athlete, to find out more. 

Singapore shares rose today as investors continue to digest more developments on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was up 0.41% at 4,074.48 points at 12.01pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$564.51M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have DBS, Singtel and ST Engineering, given how the Singapore bank, telecommunications giant and defence technology company were among the top performers in Temasek’s Singapore-based portfolio companies in the past year.  Elsewhere, from Nvidia’s brief rise to a world-record US$4 trillion valuation, the latest US Federal Reserve meeting minutes suggesting rate cuts later in the year – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff salvo on Brazilian imports. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

It was supposed to be a routine confirmation hearing — but what unfolded on Capitol Hill was anything but.  Dr. Anjani Sinha, President Trump’s nominee to be the next US Ambassador to Singapore, faced a grilling that exposed not just gaps in preparation, but deeper questions about competence, credibility, and the cost of political loyalty. From fumbling trade figures to blank stares on ASEAN policy, the hearing left senators — and observers — stunned.  So the question now is: Was this just a bad performance, or a symptom of something much bigger in America’s diplomatic playbook? What happens now to Dr Sinha? Does he still have a chance to be confirmed as the next ambassador to Singapore? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Jessica Genauer, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the College of Business, Government and Law at Flinders University, to find out more.

Alternative investments are undergoing a major transformation in 2025.  New technologies like blockchain are enabling tokenization of real-world assets, while AI is reshaping how deals are sourced and managed. Private credit continues to grow as investors seek yield beyond traditional markets, and impact investing is moving toward deeper, measurable outcomes. Combined with changing regulations and increasing retail participation, these shifts are redefining how investors approach alternatives.  What opportunities and challenges lie ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gerald Gan, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Reed Capital Partners, to find out what the top themes are to watch in the alt space this year.

Industries change, job security vanishes, and for many mid-career professionals in Singapore, the pressure to reskill is real. But switching into cybersecurity? That’s a whole different beast. It’s technical, fast-moving, and often feels out of reach for those without an IT background.  That’s exactly why the Centre for Cybersecurity Institutewas started by a team who’ve been there. As Singapore continues to invest in digital capabilities and cybersecurity talent, CFCI represents a different kind of training provider, one that’s less focused on tech buzzwords and more focused on people. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with James Lim, Co-Founder and CEO of Centre for Cybersecurity Institute, to find out more. 

Singapore shares rose today as investors mull new tariff threats by US President Donald Trump. The Straits Times Index was up 0.23% at 4,056.99 points at 11.31am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$490.29M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have OCBC and Great Eastern, given how the insurer will resume trading after a vote for it to be delisted fell through at its extraordinary general meeting yesterday.  Elsewhere, from Trump’s latest comments to impose a 50 per cent tariff on imported copper, to China’s producer deflation deepening to its worst level in almost two years in June – more international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kenneth Goh, Director, Private Wealth Management, UOB Kay Hian.