Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Michael Saylor has become Bitcoin’s most high-profile corporate evangelist, amassing a staggering $60 billion worth of the crypto giant. His company’s stock has soared more than tenfold since embracing Bitcoin in 2020 — inspiring a wave of copycats across industries.  Now, from pharma to tech startups, companies are betting their futures on Bitcoin to boost stock prices and reshape their identities.  But beneath the hype lurk urgent questions: Are these firms truly committed to crypto’s potential, or chasing a risky gamble? With volatility, regulatory pressure, and shifting accounting rules on the horizon, can this bold strategy survive — or is corporate crypto facing a reckoning? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Carney Mak, Chief Strategy Officer at Tokenize Xchange, to find out more.

Singapore’s pet market is booming, but behind the wagging tails and adorable puppy pics, there’s a deeper conversation happening about ethics, transparency, and health. PupUp is a startup looking to tackle the often murky world of puppy sourcing with heart, tech, and a strong sense of responsibility. PupUp connects families directly with ethical breeders abroad, ensuring transparency, strict health standards, and a full support system that lasts long after the puppy arrives. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Megan Tan, CEO and Founder, PupUp to find out more. 

Thiruben Thana Rajan recently shattered a 38-year-old national record in the 800m at the Asian Athletics Championships - and that's just the start. From injury comebacks to podium dreams, he sits down with Sports Minutes to share how he balances a full-time job with full-speed ambition. This is more than just a win on track - it’s a story of persistence, planning, and passion. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks fell today as investors continue to monitor the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Iran and Israel.  The Straits Times Index dropped 0.33% at 3,898.54 points at about 11.32am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$414.04M seen in the broader market.  In terms of counters to watch, we have Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust, ESR Reit,  Sabana Industrial Reit; Acrophyte Hospitality Trust.  That is because ESR Group, which is the sponsor of Suntec Reit, ESR Reit, Sabana Industrial Reit and Acrophyte Hospitality Trust, is expected to delist from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on the 3rd of July as its shareholders on Friday approved a scheme resolution to privatise it.  Elsewhere, from shares of SGX-listed oil and gas counters surging amid a rally in oil prices, to market expectations ahead of a slew of central bank decisions out this week – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kelvin Wong, Senior Analyst, OANDA.

Prices surged, then quickly gave up gains as escalating tensions between Iran and Israel rattled a region responsible for a third of the world’s crude. But behind the short-term volatility lies a deeper shift in the global energy landscape—one that could redefine the future of oil demand. While Brent and WTI recently notched their strongest weeks of the year earlier this month, some analysts warn that the momentum may be fleeting, with prices potentially dipping into the $40s. At the same time, the global center of energy demand is beginning to tilt—from China to a rapidly rising India. As the world’s fastest-growing oil and gas market steps into the spotlight, key questions emerge: Can India sustain this growth? What does this mean for global supply, prices, and geopolitics? And how will the evolving role of natural gas fit into this new equation? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Lin Ye, Vice President, Commodities Markets – Oil at Rystad Energy, to find out more. 

Tensions have ramped up between Israel and Iran, marked by direct, deadly missile strikes. Cities are burning, casualties are mounting, and the world is watching with growing alarm. As leaders of the G7 huddle in the Canadian Rockies, the threat of a broader regional war looms large. Has the red line been crossed? Can diplomacy still pull this back from the brink? And what’s really at stake if this spiral continues unchecked? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Eyal Mayroz, Senior Lecturer of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney to find out more.

Asia Pacific is quickly becoming a hotspot for scalable, purpose-driven innovation. At the forefront is Venturebeam — the largest global impact investor platform connecting game-changing startups with international capital. With tools like its free Venture Impact Score and strong regional partnerships, Venturebeam is setting new standards for transparency, accountability, and measurable results in venture funding. How is the platform is redefining impact investing and why the region is poised for growth in purpose-led ventures? On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Diana Kam, CEO for Asia Pacific at Venturebeam to find out. 

The property market is in focus today as we speak to a leading real estate technology company that operates real estate portals across South East Asia. Launched in 2014 as 99.co, our guest 99 Group was conceived during the 2008 US mortgage subprime crisis, an event which the firm believed was “born out of desire and misinformation”.  The founding team at 99 Group hence made it a point to make the company into a simple and trusted platform to un-complicated the property journey.  This can be seen in the firm’s positioning strategy, where it aims to differentiate itself from other property search websites through its user-friendly designs, with features including price analysis data, finance planners, smart filters, as well as the ability to search by map or commute time.  Fast forward to today, 99 Group is said to be one of the fastest growing property portal firms in the region, with a presence in both Singapore and Indonesia.  The group is said to specialise in digital property advertising and has a portfolio of three brands: namely its flagship 99.co property portal and SRX.com.sg right here in Singapore, as well as 99.co/id and Rumah 123 in Indonesia. So far, 99 Group said it has achieved what it described as solid growth, with revenues of US$17 million recorded for 2023, a CAGR of 47% since 2019.  But what are the key trends the firm is capitalising on to take it forward and which are the markets with the biggest potential in the region? And what are the challenges for proptech firms even as Southeast Asia rises as a hotbed for property technology or proptech innovation?   Meanwhile, the ongoing narrative about interest rates in the region continues to weigh on home buyers’ and investors' minds. So how far has this influenced the types of listings that appear on 99 Group’s platforms and how is the firm attracting and showing the right listings to its consumers to increase retention and action? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Darius Mahtani Cheung, Founder and CEO, 99 Group.

Father’s Day is a day to honour the dads, father figures, and caregivers who show up in big and small ways but in recent years, being a father means a lot more than providing for the family or handing out discipline.  Today’s dads are expected to be emotionally present, hands-on with parenting, and active partners at home – all while juggling work, societal expectations, and personal growth. On this special edition of The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jeremy Chua, Educator, 13Thirteen followed by Pendita, Father of Three and finally Justin Hui, who is a Stay-At-Home Dad, to find out what it means to be a "modern dad".

On this Father's Day Special on Wealth Tracker, Hongbin is joined by a dad who's guiding his two sons on their investment journey—Steve Brice, Global Chief Investment Officer at Standard Chartered.  But this isn’t just another CIO outlook.  This is a dad, who guided his sons through their investment journey as highlighted in his piece ‘Diary of a CIO’s Son’—straight from the heart. So what investment advice has he given to his sons and what can we learn from it?