Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Pop Mart says its profits are set to surge, but the market isn’t convinced. Despite projecting a 350% jump in earnings and booming global demand for its designer toys, the company’s shares tumbled over 6% after the announcement. With the stock up nearly 600% in the past year, investors are asking: Is Pop Mart overvalued? Is this still a high-growth story or a hype-driven risk? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jeff Zhang, CFA, Equity Analyst, Morningstar, to find out more. 

In a world where wellness trends come and go, one Singapore brand is going back to the basics, starting with the very thing we do 22,000 times a day, called breathing.  And at the heart of this movement is Therapin, a homegrown company that believes transformative change begins with a single, intentional breath. The Therapin Nose Strip is designed to help you breathe better, live better, and feel better.  But while on a mission to champion mental wellness, resilience, and holistic health in every aspect of our lives, how are they enacting change just with breathing? On the Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Cliff Leck Kai Long and Mohamed Khai Irfan, Founders of Therapin, to find out more.

In recent years, weight-loss drugs have exploded in popularity with Ozempic in particular being hailed by some as a “miracle”.  Originally developed to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic’s side effect of appetite suppression has made it widely used and some argue that it is widely misused for the purpose of losing weight. So, with the rising demand for these drugs among people without diabetes and endorsements by A-list celebrities, are we witnessing a medical revolution or will this shortcut cause even more problems for people who are obese or overweight? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Sue-Anne Toh, Co-Founder, CEO, and Medical Director of NOVI Health and Adjunct Associate Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and Dr Shanker Pasupathy, Senior Consultant and Medical Director, Digestive Centre, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, to find out whether the benefits of weight loss drugs are worth the risk.

Singapore shares moved higher today amid mixed trading in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.54% at 4,184.04 points at 12.53pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$607.68M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Food Empire, after the group today announced its partnership with Santan Food Services, a brand under an AirAsia unit, to co-develop and launch a range of ready-to-drink beverages.  Elsewhere, from more on Netflix’s latest quarterly earnings to how the US Commerce Department is set to impose preliminary anti-dumping duties of 93.5 per cent on Chinese imports of graphite, a key battery component, more corporate and 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 latest Fitch Global Economic Outlook offers a cautiously optimistic update on the world’s economic growth for 2025 and 2026, fueled by easing US-China trade tensions. Yet, beneath this optimism lie significant challenges, from tariff uncertainties and slowing consumer demand in major economies to inflation pressures stirred by volatile oil prices. Central banks face tough decisions amid diverging policies and persistent inflation.  In this complex and shifting landscape, what does the future hold for global growth? How should businesses and investors navigate these headwinds? And which regions or sectors might emerge stronger despite the uncertainty? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Charles Seville, Senior Director in Fitch Ratings’ Economics team, to find out more.

Wonderbewbz is Singapore’s leading freeze-drying breast milk service, created to help mums preserve their milk while honouring the unseen effort behind every drop. Born from a deeply personal journey, Wonderbewbz has grown from one mum’s need into a trusted service with an ISO-certified cleanroom, a dedicated operations team, and over 500 mothers supported across Singapore and beyond. They're now expanding into setting industry standards, developing R&D-backed products for mums and babies, and forging partnerships that bring real, meaningful support to the postpartum community. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jolene Ruth Tan, Founder, Wonderbewbz, to find out more.

The Lion City Sailors aren’t just building a team - they’re sending a message. With the blockbuster signing of Brazilian striker Anderson Lopes hot on the heels of Tsiy Ndenge, Ivan Sušak, and Safuwan Baharudin, Singapore’s ONLY privatized football club is making it clear: they’re not here to play catch-up - they’re here to compete with Asia’s elite. Big names. Big ambition. But will big spending bring big success? READ MORE:  Lion City Sailors score coup with two-time J1 League top scorer Anderson Lopes Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

There is an ongoing crackdown on e-vaporisers here in Singapore, following a spike in seizures of drug-laced e-vaporisers. K-pods or e-vaporiser laced with the anaesthetic drug etomidate, have been at the center of public attention this week, with The Straits Times’ launch of an anti-vaping campaign on July 13. Over the past few weeks, young people have been caught on video shaking uncontrollably, purportedly from the effects of using drug-laced vapes. In fact, the vaping issue today mirrors what was seen in the early 1980s, when Singapore was grappling with glue-sniffing. So how deep does this crisis run and what’s fueling it? And how can we address this issue? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Melvinderpal Singh Ishar, Deputy News Editor, The Straits Times, to find out more.  To report vaping offences and the sale of vaping devices to the authorities, the public can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 5.30pm on weekdays.

Singapore shares rose today as investors continue to mull US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats to trading partners around the world. The Straits Times Index was up 0.55% at 4,154.89 points at 2.45pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$882.07M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have embattled entertainment player mm2 Asia, as the group is seeking to delay a S$54 million bond repayment by six years to the end of December 2031.  Elsewhere, from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company posting a better-than-expected 61 per cent jump in profit for the June quarter, to China pledging to rein in “irrational competition” in its electric vehicle (EV) sector – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus. Plus – the ongoing saga between US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

Markets are anything but predictable right now. Central banks are pulling in different directions, inflation’s uneven, and geopolitical risks are on the rise. So, how can investors protect their portfolios without sacrificing yield? Short-term interest rate strategies might just be the smart middle ground. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Angus Hui, Deputy CIO and Head of Fixed Income at Fullerton Fund Management, for a breakdown of why these flexible, liquid approaches are gaining attention and what it means for your investments.