Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

In 2020, the PAP’s national vote share fell to 61.24% - its lowest since 2011, and a sharp drop from the SG50 high of 69.9%. It was a sign of shifting ground - a rising appetite for political diversity, close fights in traditional strongholds, and growing momentum for the opposition.

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, marking the end of a historic papacy. As the first Latin American pope and a champion of the poor, Pope Francis sought to steer the Catholic Church into a more inclusive, socially conscious direction - all while navigating deep divisions within the institution. His death comes just a day after making a rare public appearance on Easter Sunday, following a lengthy battle with pneumonia. On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Dr Michel Chambon, Research Fellow, National University of Singapore, to discuss more about the legacy he has left behind.

Singapore shares rose today, tracking gains seen in the previous session.  The Straits Times Index was up 0.95% at 3,795.06 points at 2.35pm Singapore time with a value turnover of S$965.10M in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Frasers Centrepoint Trust after the trust’s manager said yesterday that its preferential offering was 24.8 per cent oversubscribed.  Meanwhile, from market expectations ahead of Tesla’s Q1 earnings release, to how Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said it would invest US$50 billion in the US over the next five years – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeremy Tan, CEO, Tiger Fund Management.

Nomination Day is tomorrow, and Singapore’s political scene is heating up. Parties are unveiling their final slates of candidates, with the PAP emphasizing its "5G" leadership - young, diverse, and poised to take the party into its next phase. Meanwhile, the Workers’ Party continues to broaden its appeal with candidates from a wide range of professional backgrounds. At the same time, economic issues are emerging as a central theme - PSP’s Sumarleki Amjah has spotlighted jobs, wages, and the cost of living - key concerns for many voters. With intense contests expected in battleground constituencies like East Coast and Punggol, all eyes are on how each party will tailor its strategy to connect with the ground. On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Dr Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore, to discuss more key movements from the parties before Nomination Day.    

The outlook for fixed income markets in the 2nd quarter of 2025 may just present a cautiously optimistic view, driven by a combination of factors.  Global interest rates are expected to follow a downward bias, supported by a likely 75bps Fed Fund Rate cut starting in June, as the Federal Reserve aims to balance its mandate with economic conditions. In fact, a risk-off sentiment continues to dominate investor behavior, with flows directed toward safe-haven assets like government bonds and investment-grade credits.  So what’s the outlook like for fixed income markets? Should investors stay overweight in this market? On The Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks with Barnabas Gan, Group Chief Economist & Head of Market Research, RHB Bank.

NetGain Systems is a Singapore-based enterprise software company that helps businesses monitor and manage their IT infrastructure more effectively. They offer AI-powered IT observability and monitoring solutions that provide real-time visibility, early issue detection, and actionable insights by supporting industries like finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and public services. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks to Soon Seah Toh, CTO and Founder, NetGain Systems, to find out more.   Presented by: Nadiah Koh Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Nadiah Koh Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Singapore shares moved higher today even as regional investors remained downbeat given US tariff concerns.  The Straits Times Index was up 1.18% at 3,764.16 points at 2.09pm Singapore time with a value turnover of S$647.77M in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have City Developments Ltd, after the developer responded to a wide range of questions from shareholders spanning its share price decline to queries from the Securities Investors Association (Singapore). Elsewhere, from movements in the US dollar after US President Donald Trump contemplated whether he could fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, to more on the key economic data points to watch this week – more international 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.

Election season is in full swing as parties prepare for Nomination Day on April 23. The People’s Action Party (PAP) is fielding new faces, including Desmond Lee, who now leads the West Coast-Jurong West team, while gearing up for tough contests in areas like Sengkang GRC. The Workers’ Party (WP) is also making moves, unveiling new candidates like Jackson Au, Paris V. Parameswari, and Michael Thng as they aim to strengthen their hold on Aljunied and Sengkang, while eyeing new battlegrounds. On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, to discuss these key developments ahead of the election.   Presented by: Nadiah Koh Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Nadiah Koh Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Is Singapore football's BIGGEST reset finally here? With new FAS leadership, an evolving Unleash the Roar project, and the ever-controversial Goal 2034 - it well and truly could be. But on the road to that lofty target of playing at the FIFA World Cup, what’s working, what’s not, and what still needs fixing.? Kadir Yahaya, R. Sasikumar and Deepanraj Ganesan join forces on Sports Minutes to tell it like it is — the good, the bad, and what comes next. READ MORE: Has Singapore football Unleashed the Roar to achieve its goals Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

The diamond market, long synonymous with luxury, status, and tradition, is facing a period of significant transformation. With fluctuations in diamond prices, the rise of lab-grown alternatives, and changing consumer preferences - and now with the recent Trump Tariffs, the landscape is evolving rapidly.  Despite these challenges, opportunities continue to emerge for investors looking to navigate the complexities of this sector. Are diamonds losing its shine? How should investors then mitigate the risks and uncertainties that are faced in the diamond market right now?  On The Wealth Tracker, Nadiah Koh speaks with Fabio M Cascapera, President of the Diamond Exchange of Singapore to find out.