Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Coins in your pocket could be worth far more than you think. From a humble 5-cent coin selling for nearly $15 to rare Singapore pieces fetching 100 times their face value, could the spare change sitting in your drawer actually be a hidden investment? Then, we turn up the volume on another everyday habit: loud fitness classes. New research suggests the booming music in spin and high-intensity workouts can potentially put your hearing at risk. If louder music doesn’t actually improve your performance, why are gyms still blasting it? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh explore the surprising value of Singapore coins and the hidden cost of turning your workouts up to 108 decibels.

Singapore shares were little moved today as all eyes remained on oil price movements and developments in the Middle East.  The Straits Times Index was down a marginal 0.05% at 4,858.11 points at 2.47pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.09B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Jardine Matheson Holdings, after the Hong Kong-based conglomerate yesterday reported an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in underlying profit to US$1.7 billion for financial year 2025. Full-year revenue fell 4 per cent to US$34.2 billion.  Elsewhere from how the International Energy Agency has reportedly proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history to bring down crude prices,to how Meta has agreed to acquire Moltbook, more international and corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kenneth Goh, Director, Private Wealth Management, UOB Kay Hian.

Malaysia’s long-standing RON95 petrol price of RM1.99 per litre is under threat. Surging global oil prices, a tense Middle East, and a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz are putting the government and consumers on high alert. What could rising fuel costs mean for households, businesses, and the Malaysian economy at large? Could subsidies survive, or are higher petrol prices inevitable? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior Economist, OCBC Bank, to find out more.

Think wealth is just about returns? Think again. Ultra-high net worth families are taking a longer view—building legacies that span generations and borders. Lombard Odier’s second Rethink Family Wealth report reveals how families, family offices, and foundations are managing wealth differently today.  From governance and family alignment to private markets and endowment-inspired strategies, we explore how long-horizon investors are turning today’s market shifts into lasting value. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jack Siu, Head of Discretionary Portfolio Management, Asia, Lombard Odier, to find out more.

Is there something you know so well you could recognise it blindfolded?  On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada talk about a Barbie collector who knows her dolls so well she can identify them blindfolded, and a viral road sign in Tianjin, China warning drivers not to make jokes while behind the wheel.

Singapore shares rose today as oil prices retreated from earlier highs.  The Straits Times Index was up 1.74% at 4,839.48 points at about 2.11pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.33B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Suntec REIT, after property tycoon Gordon Tang’s Acrophyte Asset Management yesterday received approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to acquire ESR Trust Management (Suntec), the manager of Suntec Reit.  Elsewhere, from how oil driven inflation could weigh on transport and logistics players on the SGX, to how Apple reportedly increased iPhone production in India by about 53 per cent last year, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities.

Balestier keep the good times rolling with a fourth straight win, while BG Tampines put five past the Young Lions to keep pace at the top of the table. But beyond the scorelines, Sports Minutes runs the rule over domestic recruitment - from signings that are flourishing, to those flattering to deceive. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader after the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli strike — a move that could reshape the country’s political future and its relations with Washington. The appointment comes despite strong opposition from Donald Trump, who had previously said the younger Khamenei would be “unacceptable” as Iran’s next leader and suggested the United States should have a say in the succession. So who exactly is Mojtaba Khamenei? And with Washington openly opposed to his leadership, could his appointment push tensions between Iran and the US to an even more dangerous level? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with DrJames M. Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, to find out more.

Gold and silver are shedding their image as old-school safe havens and emerging as the new entry point for a younger generation of investors. According to a report by OCBC Bank, two in three first-time retail investors in 2025 chose precious metals over traditional options like equities and funds, a sharp shift in how people are starting their investment journeys. With investors under 40 now making up half of all precious metals customers, the fastest growth is coming from those in their 20s, drawn by accessibility, affordability and a sense of stability. But as gold and silver become more mainstream through digital and fractional investing, the bigger question is whether this signals a long-term change in wealth-building behaviour, or a more cautious response to an uncertain global environment. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Germaine Tan, Head of Treasury Products and Equities, OCBC, to find out more.

A TikTok-viral baker says living with his parents lets him save, invest… and splurge on designer bags. But is it savvy financial planning or a little too comfortable? On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the growing debate around adult children living at home — what they should contribute, and whether independence is being delayed. Then, as global tensions threaten oil supply and petrol prices in Singapore surge past $3 per litre, we look at the everyday energy habits that cause the biggest household fights. From lights left on to air-con overuse, are these small habits costing you more than you think?