Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares were higher in the afternoon after starting the day lower.  The Straits Times Index was up 0.46% at 3,843.41 points at about 2.18pm, with a value turnover of S$1.04B in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have GuocoLand, after the property developer secured S$367.1 million in green financing from DBS to develop a residential site in Faber Walk.  Elsewhere, from the impact of sweeping 25 per cent levies on all US aluminium and steel imports on regional markets, to how OpenAI launched new tools for developers to help them build advanced AI agents – more international and corporate headlines in focus. Plus – we’ll also talk about where you can go in Asia to stretch your Singdollar furthest. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with James Cheo, Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia and India at HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth.

Did you know that amongst the NINE teams competing in the Singapore Women’s Premier League - there is ONLY ONE that does not have an active men’s team. And that team is Still Aerion Women’s Football Club. Dedicated to female footballers - the club have a roster that includes players who’ve featured in the Women’s World Cup, stars of the Singapore Lionesses past and present, and at the helm have a former S-league winner in Jeremy Chiang. So with all the ingredients in place, can they cook up a storm in 2025? Sports Minutes sits down with head coach Jeremy and new signing Lila Tan to find out. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Bitcoin fell to start off the week as volatility in the price of the world’s largest cryptocurrency continues. That's after an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to create a strategic bitcoin reserve for the United States was seen as a disappointment to many crypto investors, who wanted more detail.  So should you still stay heavily invested in crypto? Could crypto rally on a clearer agenda from Trump? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ornella Hernandez, Presenter, Moniify Playbook, to find out more.

Automa8e Technologies is revolutionizing accounting with AI-driven automation, streamlining bookkeeping, tax filing, and financial reporting. By eliminating manual inefficiencies, Automa8e enhances accuracy, compliance, and real-time decision-making. With Tier 3 ASR+ accreditation from IRAS, the company is setting new standards in financial automation and expanding across Asia to drive the future of intelligent accounting solutions. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Vidushan Premathiratne, Chief Growth Officer, Automa8e Technologies, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Major changes have been made to Singapore’s electoral map, with just five GRCs and four single-seat wards remaining unchanged from the last election. The total number of constituencies now stands at 33, compared to 31 previously. Additionally, the next parliament will comprise 97 elected Members of Parliament. So what impact will these changes have on GE2025? How will the electoral landscape change? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Nadiah Koh (nadkoh@sph.com.sg)  Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for crimes against humanity over his deadly drug war. Duterte was taken into custody upon landing in Manila on March 11 after attending a campaign event in Hong Kong. His arrest follows a shift in stance by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose administration agreed to cooperate with the ICC despite initially rejecting its jurisdiction. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dennis Coronacion, Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Santo Tomas, to share more about the situation.

Singapore shares tumbled in early trade this morning, joining Asia-wide declines as US markets dropped deep into negative territory on fears over tariffs and recession risks. The Straits Times Index (STI) fell 1.5 per cent to 3,839.812 points early on after 71.1 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have the Singapore Exchange given its plans to list Bitcoin perpetual futures as traditional exchanges push deeper into crypto derivative markets.  Elsewhere, from a sell off in local bank stocks, to how talks between the US and China are reportedly stuck at lower levels – more corporate and 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.

Financial services firm Chocolate Finance on March 10 suspended instant withdrawals, citing high demand. It said on its mobile app that it was experiencing an unusually high volume of withdrawal requests, so users making requests during this period would have to wait between three and 10 days to get back their money. This disruption has raised a number of concerns among customers, particularly regarding the security of their funds, the delays in withdrawals, and the lack of communication surrounding the issue. Can Chocolate Finance rebuild trust after this? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong spekas with Walter de Oude, CEO and Founder, Chocolate Finance as he addresses these concerns.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Nadiah Koh (nadkoh@sph.com.sg)  Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Trust Bank has launched TrustInvest — a new investment product designed to make investing more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly for everyone. It's also partnered with global investment firm aberdeen to offer users a chance to build a diversified portfolio with just a few taps on their phones. So what are the  different funds that users can invest in? And how is TrustInvest a gamechanger in the financial landscape? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Trust Bank’s CEO Mr Dwaipayan Sadhu, to find out more. 

Soul Parking is a leading parking management service provider in Indonesia, revolutionizing urban parking through technology-driven solutions. By integrating vertical parking systems, a cloud-based Operating System, and real-time data analytics, Soul Parking optimizes space utilization, enhances efficiency, and delivers a seamless, cashless parking experience. The company’s innovative approach helps property owners maximize revenue while improving accessibility for drivers in high-density cities. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kenneth Darmansjah, CEO, Soul Parking, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Hongbin Jeong Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!