Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore. Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.  MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.  In the final of three interviews, she spoke with Rahul Kapoor, Global Head of Shipping Analytics & Research of S&P Global Commodity Insights.  The duo dived into the teething issues relating to trade, shipping and the shifting of global supply chains amid ongoing US tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties, and what that means for companies and governments.

Israel has launched an unprecedented airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders gathered to discuss a US-brokered ceasefire proposal.  While several lower-ranking Hamas members were killed, Hamas insists its top leadership survived.  The move has drawn sharp international condemnation, with Qatar calling it a grave breach of sovereignty, the UN warning of dangerous escalation, and Gulf partners questioning U.S. reliability.  Central to the fallout is whether the US had prior knowledge and whether Israel’s actions represent a strategic miscalculation or a deliberate gamble. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh, Director, Middle East Studies Forum, Deakin University, to find out more. 

Gold is on a tear, climbing past US$3,600 an ounce and soaring nearly 38% in 2025. This eye-popping rally has investors asking: what’s fueling gold’s surge, what risks lie ahead, and how should portfolios navigate these historic highs? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Stephanie Leung, Chief Investment Officer, StashAway, to find out more.

TinkerTank is Singapore’s first coworking space designed specifically for makers, artisans, and creatives. Unlike conventional coworking venues built for desk-bound professionals, TinkerTank provides a dedicated environment where woodworkers, potters, metalworkers, leathercrafters, musicians, and entrepreneurs can bring their ideas to life. Equipped with facilities for hands-on work, prototyping, and experimentation, TinkerTank is more than just a workspace - it’s a vibrant community that fosters collaboration, learning, and innovation. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Brandon Wei, Founder, TinkerTank, to find out more about Singapore’s first makers-focused coworking space and the vision behind it.

Singapore shares moved higher today amid a winning day in Asia. The Straits Times Index was up 1.08% at 4,344.16 points at 2.00pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.02B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Frasers Property given how its chief executive officer of emerging markets, Asia, Lim Hua Tiong, will assume the additional role of CEO of Frasers Property (Thailand) effective from Oct 1, 2025.  Meanwhile, from a record day on Wall Street after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revised down the number of new jobs in the 12 months through March by a record 911,000, to how DBS shares hit an all time high to boost the STI to a record, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Audrey Ho, Investment Counselor, Citigold Private Client, Citibank Singapore.

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore. Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.  MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.  In the second of three interviews, she spoke with Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist of S&P Global Commodity Insights , who gave an overview of the energy transition and net zero efforts in the global industry and the marketplace.  The duo also talked about what the energy mix will look like by the end of the decade, and whether the widespread use of nuclear power for data centres can be a reality.

Chinese equities are cheap, volatile, and full of potential, especially with the AI boom reshaping markets. Fullerton Fund Management, together with Da Cheng, has just launched a new fund to capture these opportunities.  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Grace Yeo, Head of Investment, CIO Office, of Fullerton Fund Management,to find out more about where the real growth stories in China lie and how investors can navigate the risks.

Singapore’s hiring optimism for Q4 2025 has weakened, falling below the global average as employers adopt a cautious approach amid economic uncertainties, according to data released by ManpowerGroup. While nearly half of companies plan to maintain current staffing levels, sectors such as transport, logistics, and automotive, along with healthcare and life sciences, show resilience with stronger employment outlooks. Smaller firms are driving optimism, whereas industries like IT, finance, and real estate experience notable declines, reflecting broader shifts in the job market and challenges in attracting qualified talent. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ives Tay, Independent Workforce Development Consultant, to explore what’s driving Singapore’s weakening hiring optimism in Q4 2025 and how companies and policymakers can respond to support sustained employment growth across sectors.

IPC Group Singapore is a leading travel company with over 27 years of experience in designing community-based and sustainable tourism experiences. Specializing in immersive programmes for schools, corporate clients, and volunteer groups, IPC Group goes beyond traditional tourism to create trips that are authentic, impactful, and socially responsible. They’re also guided by the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the company carefully crafts each programme to deliver meaningful benefits for both travelers and host communities. And with a network of partners and destinations across Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa, IPC Group Singapore combines deep expertise, ethical engagement, and a commitment to sustainability, offering travelers the opportunity to explore the world while contributing to real-world change. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Raj Kumar, Managing Director, IPC Group Singapore, to find out more.

Singapore shares fell today, as all eyes remained on the upcoming US inflation prints out mid-week. The Straits Times Index was down 0.41% at 4,291.04 points at 2.14pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$830.22M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Thakral. That’s as the company hopes to benefit from the proposed London listing of Project Glow Topco, which is the parent of UK-based The Beauty Tech Group. Thakral holds a 9.32 per cent effective interest in The Beauty Tech Group. Elsewhere, from movements in Asia amid political uncertainties in Japan and in Indonesia, to MetaOptics surging 25 per cent on its Catalist debut on the SGX, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, the Nasdaq’s record close, and how Tencent is reportedly considering its first public debt offering in four years, this time, targeting the dim sum market.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities.