Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into how employees are getting paid time off to care for sick pets, and whether that’s something necessary for all workplaces to enforce. Then, they unpack China’s booming “lunch-break economy,” where workers are spending their midday hour on massages, nap cinemas, gym sessions and even oxygen chambers just to survive the workday.

Singapore shares dipped today, in line with regional markets. The Straits Times Index was 0.03% below the flatline at 4,891.12 points at 2.35pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.16B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust, after the manager today posted a 2.6 per cent fall in distribution per unit to S$0.019 for the fourth quarter ended March 2026, from S$0.0195 in the same year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from movements in the Japanese Yen after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady despite a hawkish split, to how investors weigh the geopolitical maelstrom in the Middle East, more international headlines remained in focus.  Also on deck, how Meta is reportedly preparing to unwind its acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus after China blocked the deal on national security grounds, and what the US-China tech rivalry could mean for the US tech sector going forward.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

The finish line is in sight for the Singapore Premier League, with the Sailors moving another step closer to defend their crown. But could there yet be more twists and turns? Plus, the end of season brings coronation for players too. So who's in the running for the individuals awards? Zia-ul Raushan and Deepanraj Ganesan run the rule on Sports Minutes. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump was swiftly evacuated from a hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after shots were fired, triggering panic among attendees that included Vice-President JD Vance, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other senior political and media figures. The suspect has been identified in reports as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California. In the aftermath, Trump described the incident in political terms, suggesting it reflected his influence and prominence, and reigniting debate over rising political tensions and violence in the US. What do we know about what happened and how does this fit into earlier threats against the president? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow at the US Programme, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU Singapore, to find out more. 

According to J. Rotbart & Co.’s Exclusive Precious Metals Report for Q1 2026, the quarter was defined by record price peaks followed by a sharp March correction, as volatility rose but underlying market fundamentals remained intact. Gold outperformed, maintaining positive year-to-date gains despite a pullback from January highs, while silver declined amid rising real yields and a stronger US dollar. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Richard Wang, Country Manager for Singapore at J. Rotbart & Co., to unpack the key drivers behind these moves and what they could mean for precious metals markets in Q2.

On What's Trending Hongbin and Nadiah Koh dive into two of the most unbelievable stories making waves right now. First up, a Chinese carmaker has reportedly been granted a patent for an in-car toilet that literally slides out from under your seat, activated by voice command. Is this peak innovation or a hygiene nightmare waiting to happen? Then, in the world of football, World Cup final tickets are now being listed for as much as $2.3 million per seat on FIFA’s resale platform… meaning four friends would need nearly $9 million just to sit together behind the goal. So who exactly is this tournament for anymore?

Singapore shares slid today even as most Asian markets traded higher. The Straits Times Index was down 0.65% at 4,890.76 points at 2.51pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.17B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel, after the firm commenced arbitration proceedings against three entities it entered into an investment with in 2016, concerning a residential and mixed-use development project in Vietnam.  Elsewhere, from how investors are reacting to an Axios report that Iran seeks to make a deal on opening the Strait of Hormuz first ‌and postpone ⁠nuclear talks, to what to expect ahead of big tech earnings this week, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – all about Japan’s Nikkei hitting a record high on earnings, as well as expectations ahead of a slew of global central bank decisions this week. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

We’ll revisit the real estate sector today by looking at a REIT that is solely focused on the UK market.  Founded in 2020 and listed on the Singapore Exchange, Elite UK Reit aims to provide unitholders with what it calls a secure income stream from public sector tenants such as the UK Department for Work and Pensions.  The Reit’s portfolio spans across 148 properties which are mostly freehold or virtually freehold in places within town centres, near amenities or transportation nodes.  More notably, the Manager of the Reit said it is also tapping on sectors that exhibit strong growth potential in the UK, say purpose-built student accommodation and built-to-rent residential assets.  On the whole, the manager said the Reit has what it describes as a “long and diversified lease expiry profile and prudent capital management”, and is positioned for sustainable stability and growth from government-leased properties and the living sector.  All in, Elite UK Reit posted a distribution per unit of £0.0149 (1.49 British pence) for the second half of the 2025 financial year ended Dec 31. That’s around 1.4 per cent higher than the DPU seen in H2 2024. The figure also represented a payout ratio of 95 per cent.  Elite UK Reit is a counter that we want to talk about given how the firm is on the charm offensive to appeal to the investing community.  For one thing, the Reit had in February 2026 signed new lease agreements with the UK Government for properties occupied by the Department for Work and Pensions, a move that has helped it improve its Weighted Average Lease Expiry (or WALE) to 7.2 years from 2.4 years. The Reit’s manager said this is one of the longest WALE duration among Singapore Reits.  Beyond that, the Reit is also actively repositioning some of its properties including one in Peel Park, Blackpool. Its manager said the Reit has secured planning consent to develop a data centre building on the roughly 20-acre plot. So how will the moves augment the firm’s growth trajectory while increasing income stability? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Joshua Liaw, CEO, Elite UK Reit.

How much would you spend on a wedding cake?  One pastry chef is charging upwards of US$23,000 for a single creation, crafting massive, show-stopping cakes for the ultra-rich. Plus, would you wrap aluminium foil around your door handle? A bizarre life hack is going viral, with people claiming it can reduce static shocks and even improve home security. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada unpack luxury indulgence and questionable hacks.

A recent remark by Indonesia’s Finance Minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, has sparked debate after he suggested the possibility of a levy on ships passing through the Strait of Malacca—drawing parallels to Iran’s approach in the Strait of Hormuz following tensions in the region.  Still, the comments have raised broader questions about one of the world’s most vital shipping routes, where trillions of dollars in trade pass each year. Could strategic sea lanes like the Malacca Strait ever be monetised? What would that mean for regional cooperation, global supply chains, and international law? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law at the ANU College of Law, Australian National University, to find out more.