Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

On July 29, 2025, a fire broke out in a 10th-floor unit at Block 229 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, spreading quickly to the unit above and sending shockwaves through the quiet residential neighborhood. Seven people, including a child and a firefighter, were hospitalized. Dozens more were evacuated as smoke engulfed the building.  For one family, the fire consumed nearly everything they owned — and for others, the long path to recovery is only just beginning. So what happened? And what kind of insurance coverage applies in a situation like this? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with David Sun, Crime Correspondent, The Straits Times and Chun Wei Oh, Director of Avallis Financial, to find out more. 

Singapore shares moved lower today to track regional movements. The Straits Times Index was down 0.64% at 4,192.32 points at 11.41am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$782.65M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Keppel, after the asset manager saw net profit rise 24.2 per cent to S$377.7 million for the first half ended Jun 30, driven by growth in its real estate segment.  Elsewhere, from how Wall Street's AI heavyweights added a combined half a trillion dollars in stock market value after quarterly reports from Microsoft and Meta Platforms, to investors’ reactions on a US trade deal between the US and South Korea – more international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – how Federal Reserve officials held rates steady overnight and how Southeast Asia’s ridehailing giant Grab reported Q2 2025 earnings of US$35 million, reversing a loss seen in the same period a year ago. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

It’s all about the banking and wealth management landscape today as we speak to a Wall Street giant that's said to have not slept since the 1800s. Yes – we are talking about Citibank. After all, its slogan is that Citi never sleeps.  Founded in 1812, Citi’s activities range from safeguarding assets, lending money, making payments and accessing the capital markets on behalf of its clients. The aim is to become a trusted partner for clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.  And Citi set foot in Singapore over a century ago in 1902, and has grown to a full-service bank that provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions in Singapore a broad range of financial products and services.  Today, the Lion City is a significant hub and gateway to Asia and ASEAN, with the country housing a number of its regional and global client coverage and product units.  And the role of Singapore as a market to Citibank continues to evolve. In October 2024, the US bank shut its last regular branch in Singapore to focus on serving customers online, and advising affluent clients at its wealth hubs.  The firm said the decision comes amid higher adoption of digital, online and self-service platforms. It also comes as the firm aims to capture growing wealth created in Asia.  To this end, the firm said in April 2025 that Citi Wealth anticipates that US$100 trillion of wealth will be created over the next decade, with Asia seeing the fastest pace of growth. The company added that wealth hubs catering mainly to Citigold clients with assets of at least S$250,000 have been set up in Singapore for this reason. But what should we know about the growth of wealth in Asia? And how will Citibank Singapore position itself to get a slice of the pie?  And how does Citibank intend to navigate choppy waters in the near term given ongoing uncertainties surrounding global trade, tariff wars and interest rate outlook? On Under the Radar Specials, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Yeo Wenxian, Head of Wealth for Asia South and CEO, Citibank Singapore.

A government land site in the new Holland Plain precinct has sparked attention - not for how many bids it received, but for how far the top offer went. Sim Lian Land and Sim Lian Development submitted the highest bid at nearly S$368 million, or about S$1,432 psf ppr, a striking 22% above the next closest offer. Property consultants are calling it a bold, bullish move in a market still finding its footing. What drove Sim Lian to bid so aggressively? Does this reflect growing confidence among developers  or rising pressure from limited land supply? What could this mean for future home prices and the direction of the private residential market? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer, MOGUL SG, to find out more.

In the aftermath of the powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, tsunami warnings remain in effect across vast stretches of the Pacific.  While some regions have already experienced smaller surges, the threat is far from over, with authorities closely monitoring the situation as new waves could arrive hours after the initial tremor. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Adam Switzer, Professor of Coastal Science at the Asian School of the Environment, Principal Investigator at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, to find out more. 

Floramis is a sustainability-driven software ecosystem that transforms real-world plants into interactive digital experiences. For individuals, Floramis lets users turn their houseplants into virtual companions by combining movement, mindfulness, and gamification to promote well-being and connection through a mobile game. For businesses, Floramis offers a novel way to use plants as engagement tools, embedding them as NPCs (non-playable characters) in the Florascape to deliver gamified customer rewards, loyalty programs, and interactive brand moments. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ojus Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO, Floramis, to find out more.

Singapore shares fell today as investors continue to monitor developments on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was down 0.36% at 4,214.12 points at 1.12pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$805.70M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Hotel Properties Limited, after the property group said yesterday that it is still in discussions with parties over the redevelopment of Forum The Shopping Mall and voco Orchard Singapore.  Elsewhere, from US President Donald Trump saying that India may get a 20% to 25% tariff on goods exported to the US, to market movements ahead of big tech earnings and a Federal Reserve rate decision – more international headlines remain in focus.   On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities.

Gold has surged to new heights this year, breaking through the $3,000 mark and capturing global attention. Backed by strong central bank demand, growing ETF inflows, and a softer dollar, gold is reclaiming its status as a key strategic asset. But with economic tides turning and markets in flux, the pressing question is: will gold’s shine last into 2026 or is a correction on the horizon? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Robin Tsui, APAC Gold Strategist at State Street Investment Management, to find out more.

After days of heavy fighting along the Thai-Cambodia border, a truce brokered in Malaysia — with backing from ASEAN, the US and China — was meant to stop the violence. But fresh accusations are already testing its limits. Meanwhile, Donald Trump says his tariff threats made peace possible. So what really ended the fighting and will it last? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Hasan Jafri, Managing Director of HJ Advisory, to unpack the fragile diplomacy, trade pressure, and tensions still simmering beneath the surface.

Teenage pregnancy in Singapore is on the rise for the first time in nearly two decades. According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, 244 babies were born to teens aged 19 and below in 2024, a 7% increase from the year before. This marks a notable reversal after nearly two decades of decline, where teen birth rates had steadily dropped from a high of over 850 in 2005. What’s driving the rise of teenage pregnancy in Singapore? And what more could be done to support teen mothers? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong spoke to Melisa Wong, Executive Director of Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support, to discuss the causes behind the recent uptick, the crucial role of parents, the gaps in support systems, and what more can be done to ensure no teen has to face pregnancy alone.