Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

A Barcelona fan missed a Champions League match after following his GPS to the wrong stadium. Instead of Newcastle’s St James’ Park, he ended up at St James Park in Exeter and watched a completely different football game instead. Meanwhile, an Australian fashion designer named Katie Perry has finally won a nearly two-decade legal battle against pop superstar Katy Perry over the right to use the name for her clothing brand. On What’s Trending, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada unpack the GPS mix-up and the unusual name dispute between a small business owner and a global pop star.

Global financial markets are currently facing a complex mix of uncertainty and opportunity. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have pushed energy prices higher, adding pressure to an already delicate inflation outlook. At the same time, central banks are carefully balancing the need to control inflation with the possibility of shifting monetary policy as economic conditions evolve. Meanwhile, Asia continues to stand out as a key engine of growth, particularly as artificial intelligence and technology-related investments accelerate across the region. These forces are creating both risks and potential upside across asset classes—from equities and bonds to commodities and alternative investments. Which industries may benefit from current trends, and which areas could face challenges? And how can investors position their portfolios to stay adaptable in a rapidly changing environment? On Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks with Ecaterina Bigos, CIO for Core Investments in APAC ex-Japan at BNP Paribas Asset Management, to find out more. 

Singapore shares were little moved today as investors’ focus remained squarely on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  The Straits Times Index hovered 0.03% above the flatline at 4,856.64 points at 1.16pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$791.71M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have ST Engineering, given how the company’s urban solutions business will be deploying a suite of intelligent transport systems solutions for Singapore’s Land Transport Authority.  Elsewhere, from how the US tried to ease supply concerns by issuing a 30-day license for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products stranded at sea, to how Alibaba Group Holding launched a dedicated mobile app claiming to help users install and deploy OpenClaw within minutes – more international and corporate headlines remained 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.

Raihan Rahman’s football journey has been anything but straightforward. From losing his place in the professional game to rebuilding his career in the amateur ranks, his return to Tanjong Pagar United is a story of resilience. Now a leader in the squad and approaching 100 appearances, Raihan reflects on his comeback and the Jaguars’ difficult season. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Asian markets started 2026 with a bang, fueled by last year’s AI-driven rallies, renewed momentum in China, and a patchwork of opportunities across the region. But with valuations high and risks on the radar, the big question for investors now is: how are fund managers actually positioning their portfolios? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Germaine Share, Director of Manager Research, Morningstar and Arvind Subramanian, Senior Analyst, Manager Research, Morningstar, to find out more.

The International Energy Agency is rolling out the largest emergency oil release in its history - 400 million barrels - as the Iran conflict threatens energy supplies through the critical Strait of Hormuz. But what does this mean for global fuel markets? In Singapore, authorities say the country has several safeguards to ensure energy security, although consumers could still see electricity prices edge higher in the coming months. So how much higher could electricity prices rise? And could Budget 2026’s U-Save rebates help cushion the impact?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with David Broadstock, Partner of The Lantau Group,to find out more.

A cancelled ride could soon mean compensation for drivers. Ride-hailing platform Tada is revising its cancellation policy so drivers can receive $3 if a passenger cancels while they are already on the way and within 500 metres of the pickup point, a change that follows feedback raised by the National Private Hire Vehicles Association. Then, we zoom out to the staggering fortunes at the top of the global rich list. The latest Forbes Billionaires List once again places Elon Musk at number one, with an estimated US$839 billion net worth making him the wealthiest individual ever recorded and highlighting the massive surge in tech-driven wealth. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Zia-ul Raushan unpack these headlines from gig workers on Singapore’s roads to the growing concentration of wealth among the world’s tech titans.

Singapore shares dipped today as investors closely monitor developments out of the Middle East.  The Straits Times Index was 0.46% lower at 4,841.35 points at 2.19pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.15B seen across the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Del Monte Pacific. The food and beverage group posted yesterday a net profit of US$10 million for the three months ended Jan 31, over three times that of the US$2.5 million in the same year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from how the Singapore Exchange announced that its February performance had the highest securities daily average value (or SDAV) since 2020, to how Brent crude surged above US$100 a barrel again as Iraq stopped operations at its oil ports after two tankers were targeted, more financial headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital.

From tea stalls in Kolkata to jeepney drivers in Manila, the shockwaves from the war involving Iran are already being felt far beyond the battlefield. Cooking gas prices are rising, fuel costs are climbing, and businesses across Asia are bracing for shortages as energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz face severe disruption. The region buys the vast majority of its oil from the Middle East, meaning households, transport workers and food vendors could be among the first to feel the squeeze. So how big could this fuel crunch become, and what does it mean for economies across Asia? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mukesh Sahdev, Founder and CEO, XAnalysts,to find out more.

Private markets have long been the playground of institutional investors: think venture capital, private equity and exclusive funds with massive minimum investments and years-long lock-ups. But, blockchain and tokenisation are making it possible to break large investments into smaller pieces, potentially allowing more investors to access private deals that were once out of reach. So could this be the moment private markets finally open up to the masses? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Inmoo Hwang, Co-Founder and Group Managing Director of ADDX, about how blockchain is changing the way people invest and whether it could solve the long-standing liquidity problem in private assets.