Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares rose today even as investors continue to monitor incoming developments on the tariff front. The Straits Times Index was up 0.37% at 4,102.85 points at 12.58pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$597.06M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Exchange, given the excitement surrounding NTT DC Reit’s IPO on the local bourse. The manager of NTT DC Reit (real estate investment trust) said the public tranche of its Singapore initial public offer was about 9.8 times oversubscribed.  Elsewhere, from China’s exports rising more than expected in June, to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang set to hold a media briefing in Beijing on Wednesday – more international and corporate headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

US President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate outspoken internet personality Nick Adams as the next ambassador to Malaysia has sparked both controversy and curiosity. Known for his fiery right-wing views, Adams’ appointment is raising fresh scrutiny over his diplomatic qualifications—and what this move signals about the future of US-Malaysia relations. While critics have voiced concern and disbelief, others speculate that Adams’ close alignment with Trump could offer strategic advantages.  But what does this nomination really reveal about Trump’s foreign policy priorities?  And how might Adams’ persona play out on the global stage, especially in a Muslim-majority country like Malaysia? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Shahriman Lockman, Director (Special Projects) at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia, to find out more. 

Carbon capture is no longer just a climate play. It's an investment strategy. How should investors explore the rising momentum behind CCUS in Asia Pacific: the science, the funding, and the future? Can the region turn carbon into capital? And who’s betting big on this emerging frontier of clean tech? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sohini Chatterjee, Vice President, Low Carbon Research (CCUS), Rystad Energy, to find out more. 

Skilio is a digital career accelerator that empowers Gen Z jobseekers in Southeast Asia to discover and secure cross-border work opportunities by showcasing who they truly are, beyond paper qualifications. For too long, talent has been measured by grades and certificates alone, but they believe people are far more than their report cards - it's their skills, experiences, and unique stories that shape how they work, what they value, and the impact they make. That’s why Skilio curates career programmes designed to help Gen Z build practical, in-demand skills, explore global career pathways, and connect with an international network of peers and employers.  On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Zhi Hui, Co-Founder, Skilio, to find out more.

Helping businesses manage their customers more effectively and efficiently – that is the work of our guest for today, Salesforce.  Founded in 1999, Salesforce pioneered a Software as a Service or SaaS model by bringing Customer Relationship Management or CRM software to the cloud.  You might have heard of the term CRM for quite some time, but while CRM might seem like a buzzword that came about towards the end of the twentieth century, the concept is fairly easy to understand, and has been practised for thousands of years by traders.  To a company selling goods or services, CRM basically means keeping a record of a customer’s profile and transaction history, and analysing that information to help it better sell to the customer again. Take for instance, how you might receive a voucher in your email inbox during your birthday month to buy your favourite cake from the neighbourhood grocery store.  But these days, Customer Relationship Management goes beyond just promotions, it includes managing a firm’s internal resources against demand, its marketing and channel strategies, its data storage processes, its customer service platforms and even more.  Salesforce’s software is enabling over 150,000 companies, including notable names like FairPrice Group, Panasonic, Schneider Electric and Singapore Airlines to do all of that.  The firm is also helping its customers around the world deploy its digital labour platform Agentforce. Companies can use Agentforce to build and deploy autonomous agents that can reason, decide, act and drive meaningful outcomes 24/7 – think service agents, sales development representatives, sales coaches and marketing campaign assistants.  So what should we know about Salesforce’s Agentforce platform and how will the solution augment its growth trajectory right here in ASEAN? Meanwhile, Salesforce had in March 2025 pledged to invest over US$1 billion in Singapore over 5 years – but what was the rationale behind the move and how far is Singapore a bright spot for the firm?  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager, ASEAN, Salesforce.

The Singapore government has raised the Seller’s Stamp Duty holding period from three to four years for private homes, aiming to cool speculation and curb sub-sales.  Supporters say it deters flipping and promotes long-term ownership. Critics argue it could choke market liquidity, tighten supply, and drive prices even higher.  But will this move stabilise the market — or squeeze supply and drive prices up? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer, MOGUL SG and Stanley Wong, Senior Associate District Director, Propnex to find out whether the revised 4-year SSD holding period inflates or stabilises Singapore’s property market.

Singapore shares moved higher today even as traders continue to mull news on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was up 0.42% at 4,092.74 points at about 2.38pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$878.99M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Singtel, because the local telecommunications giant’s technology services arm, NCS, will invest S$130 million over the next three years to further its artificial intelligence (AI) development across the Asia-Pacific.  Elsewhere, from the S&P 500 index and the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite hitting fresh peaks despite Trump’s latest tariff salvo, to academics, including an adviser to the People’s Bank of China urging the country to add as much as 1.5 trillion yuan (S$268 billion) in fresh stimulus to boost consumer spending and maintain currency flexibility to counter US tariffs’ drag on growth – more 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 US dollar has long ruled the global financial stage, but that reign is now facing fresh challenges. Rising geopolitical tensions, shifting economic powers, and breakthroughs in financial technology are sparking a quiet yet powerful move away from dollar dominance. With countries and institutions eyeing alternatives like the euro, yuan, and digital currencies, the big question looms: How deep is this shift, and what does it mean for markets and investors worldwide? Is this the beginning of the end for the dollar’s supremacy, or just a new chapter in a familiar story? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gautam Chadda, Head of Strategic Advisory (Asia) at RBC Wealth Management,to find out more. 

For many mid-career professionals or civil servants stepping into digital learning environments, the pressure can feel overwhelming. That emotional weight is exactly what Johnson Ong is helping people unpack. He’s the Founder and Chief Happiness Coach at Living Better, a Singapore-based company that weaves emotional wellbeing and resilience coaching directly into workforce training.  Johnson works closely with adult learners, many of whom are stepping into tech for the first time, to rebuild their confidence and help them feel capable again. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Johnson Ong, Founder and Chief Happiness Coach at Living Better, to find out more.

Sweeping changes are coming to the Singapore Premier League - from a spike in foreign player quotas to the launch of a new reserve league. As Forrest Li begins his FAS presidency, we ask: are these reforms a bold leap forward or a risky gamble for local football?  READ MORE:  FAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quotaFAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quota Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg