Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore shares inched higher today, tracking a positive session seen on Wall Street overnight. The Straits Times Index was up 0.44% at 4,830.89 points at 11.48am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$853.16M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Info-Tech Systems, after the software provider said yesterday that it expects to report a “considerable increase” in its consolidated net profit for FY2025, compared with the full-year ended Dec 31, 2024.  Elsewhere, from how US President Donald Trump retreated from using threats of force as an option for acquiring Greenland and what that means for markets, to how South Korea’s stock benchmark topped 5,000 points for the first time, more international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, Toku’s IPO on the Singapore Exchange, and Netflix’s offer to buy Warner Bros. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital.

What does it take to protect wealth in a world where markets can swing overnight and geopolitical tensions can upend investment strategies? And when the next generation inherits not just assets but responsibility, are they truly ready? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Sujano Supianto, High Net Worth Financial Services Director, SJ Group to explore how HNW and UHNW families are rethinking wealth for volatile times, shifting from a focus on growth alone to strategies that prioritize resilience, optionality, and downside protection. From portfolio adjustments to trusts, and even passing on values alongside capital, the rules are changing.

From forced 7am runs with your boss to the quiet reality of friendship in Singapore, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh break it all down on What's Trending. We start in China, where “business running” is taking off in major cities. Office workers are now jogging with colleagues and even clients as a new way to bond, network and build trust. Supporters say it boosts productivity and cooperation. Critics say it blurs work-life boundaries. Then, we bring the conversation home. A new study finds that 1 in 10 Singaporeans does not have any close friendships. And increasingly, some are even turning to AI chatbots for casual conversation or emotional support. So what does all this say about how we connect today? Are work and personal boundaries eroding?

Singapore shares dipped today as investors continue to monitor developments on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was down 0.37% at 4,810.28 points at 2.24pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$923.01M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Frasers Logistics and Centrepoint Trust, after the manager of the trust said it will hold an annual general meeting on Jan 26, 2026, to respond to recent queries from unitholders. Elsewhere, from how a “Sell America” trade gripped markets on Wall Street overnight amid escalating trade tensions between the US and Europe over the issue of  Greenland, to how Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang is reportedly planning to travel to China as he works to reopen the market for his company’s AI chips, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeremy Tan, CEO, Tiger Fund Management.

In a season crying out for change, the Young Lions have doubled down on experience...again. Veterans Izwan Mahbud and Abdil Qaiyyim have been drafted in by Coach Firdaus Kassim, to guide a youthful squad on and off the pitch. And with nearly 200 league appearances under his belt, 'Abang Abdil' joins Sports Minutes to talk leadership, responsibility, and fixing a fragile back line. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

The Workers’ Party has rejected Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s invitation to nominate another elected MP to the position of Leader of the Opposition (LO), adding that it takes the view that the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament is the leader of the opposition. At the same time, a three-member disciplinary panel made up of senior Workers’ Party figures has been convened to review Pritam Singh’s conviction and removal as Leader of the Opposition. What powers does this panel have, what outcomes are on the table, and how might its decision reshape the party’s leadership and internal dynamics? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong goes beyond the headlines with Dr Felix Tan, Independent Political Observer, for more analysis.

He wants Greenland, and he’s not holding back. President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on Europe, floating tariffs, questioning NATO’s resolve, and claiming the EU won’t push back. Denmark says no. Europe is pushing back, at least rhetorically. And inside the US, even Trump’s own team isn’t fully aligned. And in a twist that has shocked many, Trump has linked this aggressive push to last year’s Nobel Peace Prize snub, telling Norway’s prime minister he no longer feels “an obligation to think purely of peace.” So is this power politics, personal grievance, or a negotiating tactic in the Arctic? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law at the Australian National University, for more details. 

Is 2026 the year fixed income finally gets boring again, or is that exactly the risk? Emerging markets look ‘just right’, AI money is flooding the system, and central banks are quietly stepping back. So where does that leave investors who just want reliable income? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Leonard Kwan, Portfolio Manager for the T. Rowe Price Dynamic Emerging Markets Bond Strategy to find out more.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada discuss a ski resort in China that is turning heads with a “princess carry” service: male instructors literally carrying female guests down the slopes, complete with birthday cakes and photo ops, sparking debates about safety, romance, and the meaning of winter sports. Meanwhile, online, 2016 is making a major comeback, with TikTok users and celebrities alike reminiscing about simpler, carefree times: Snapchat filters, iconic music, and the joy of posting without overthinking likes or algorithms.

Singapore shares were little moved today as Asian markets traded mostly lower. The Straits Times Index was up 0.05% at 4,837.15 points at 2.12pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$927.87M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have the Singapore Exchange, after the local bourse announced yesterday that it will expand its current suite of offerings to introduce futures on longer-dated Japanese government bonds (JGB).    Elsewhere, from how US Treasury yields climbed to their highest level in more than four months, as a resurgence of trade-war concerns hit risk sentiment, to how Korea Exchange’s CEO sees the Kospi hitting 6,000 points, more international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck, how China left benchmark loan prime rates unchanged for the eighth consecutive month in January today, matching market expectations. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kelvin Wong, Senior Analyst, OANDA.