Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

In a world where men’s fashion often leans towards fast trends and mass production, Made Suits has carved out a distinctive niche by offering high-quality, bespoke tailoring that combines the finest Italian and Japanese craftsmanship. Co-founded by Benjamin Tay, Made Suits was born from a passion for refined tailoring and a vision to revolutionize how men shop for suits in Singapore and beyond. What does it take to build a tailoring brand that marries tradition with innovation? How do you craft a suit that’s not only a perfect fit but also a reflection of modern masculinity? On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Benjamin Tay, Co-founder, Made Suits to find out more. 

A British woman was awarded $50,000 after being compared to Darth Vader at work. And what was meant as a fun, Star Wars-themed team quiz turned into a serious HR issue.

Money Matter’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian was at Sentosa to attend the Asia Tech x Singapore or ATx Summit held at Capella Singapore.  Organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore or the IMDA, the event covers a range of topics such as agentic and embodied AI, space satellite and communications, quantum compute and digital sustainability through a series of plenary sessions.  There is also a variety of forums and roundtables to facilitate closer partnerships between the public sector and the digital industry.  Among them, is the first OpenAI Forum in Asia. The series is aimed at sparking thoughtful dialogue on how AI can enhance culture, society, and everyday life.  The forum session dived into OpenAI’s first ever museum partnership in Asia, with the Peranakan Museum and in collaboration with Ask Mona, a French AI studio that specialises in cultural experiences.  In a pilot collaboration, they came up with ways for museum visitors to speak to artifacts like a kamcheng jar or the traditional Peranakan attire using AI-generated conversations, and provide a fresh and interactive way to connect people with heritage ahead of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations. Tian Tian found out more about the experience from Sandy Kunvatanagarn, Head of APAC Policy at OpenAI. 

Singapore shares moved higher today even as Asia traded mixed. The Straits Times Index was up 0.42% at 3,912.35 points at 2.46pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$716.87M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have OCBC, after the bank announced yesterday key leadership changes to its global wholesale banking franchise, to take effect on the 1st of October.  Elsewhere, from Singapore’s real wages rising at a faster rate of 3.2% in 2024, to China planning an overhaul of its commodities market to attract global investors, more local and international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – how a Tencent Holdings subsidiary is snapping up a nearly 10 per cent stake in SM Entertainment valued at about US$180 million, marking a rare Chinese investment into a South Korean company in recent years.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Too Jun Cheong, Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.

The luxury fashion market stands at a crossroads amid tightening global economies and shifting consumer mindsets.  With real incomes lagging and spending growth subdued through 2029, traditional luxury hubs like the US, China, and Europe face unprecedented challenges.  Rising prices, evolving questions of value and authenticity, and the surge of affordable luxury are redefining how consumers connect with high-end brands.  How are macroeconomic forces and trade policies steering this transformation — and what strategies around perception, pricing, and brand positioning will ensure lasting success in a rapidly changing landscape? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Lydia Burton, Associate Analyst, Food & Drink, BMI, to find out more.

Singapore’s real wages rose by 3.2% in 2024, marking a rebound from the modest 0.4% growth the year before as nominal wage increases outpaced easing inflation. Yet, concerns are emerging over the sustainability of this trend. Despite stronger-than-expected GDP growth in early 2024 and signs of easing in US-China trade tensions, MOM expects wage growth to moderate in 2025. What explains the cautious outlook amid improving economic indicators? Why are certain sectors seeing stronger wage and profit growth than others? And how might global and domestic forces shape the future of wages in Singapore? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Aurobindo Ghosh, Assistant Professor of Finance (Education) Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University to find out more.   

2-time Premier League winner Joe Hart sits down with Sports Minutes to discuss his ‘fraught’ relationship with Pep Guardiola, working and winning under Ange Postecoglu at Celtic and his admiration for the league winners Liverpool. Plus, despite earning 75 caps for the Three Lions and 43 clean sheets to show for, does he feel he gets the recognition he deserves? Tune in to find out! READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou deserves credit for ending Tottenham Hotspur’s trophy drought: Joe Hart Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

More parents are turning to tuition just to keep the peace at home, often because they simply don’t recognize the way their children are being taught today. And that disconnect doesn’t stop at schoolwork. Children are growing up on TikTok and Instagram, while parents remain on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. The result? Even how we talk about school and learning is happening in different digital languages. So, how can parents bridge the widening education gap without burning out? On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Lily Chew, founder of Lil’ but Mighty to find out how she is bridging the homework generation gap.

In 1920, Charles Ponzi pulled off one of the most infamous financial scams in history by promising massive returns through a fake investment scheme. His name would go on to define the “Ponzi scheme,” a fraud that still traps investors today.

In November 2023, the Singapore Land Authority, the Singapore Tourism Board, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority launched a collective tender to appoint a master tenant to rejuvenate a row of shophouses along Smith Street, as well as the adjacent pedestrian mall. That’s where the former Chinatown Food Street was located before it lowered its shutters in 2021, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In part two of this two-part “On the Go” Specials of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian joined Carrie Wong, Director of Business Planning, Singapore Land Authority at Chinatown for a preview of the rejuvenated site.  They also discussed the features to watch out for as shops along the refreshed site progressively open.