Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore's nightlife scene has always been the heart of entertainment for adults wanting to relax after a long day of work.  Soaring rents, strict regulations, and changing social habits are forcing many bars and clubs to call it quits. The pandemic dealt a major blow, but is it the only culprit? With reports coming out that Gen Zs and millennials are losing interest, are they really the reason why or are they just part of the bigger problem? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Xinde Yap, Founder of Chug Chug and Wadi, Social media influencer to find out whether Singapore's nightlife scene is phasing out or not.    Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and edited by: Naz, Alexandra and Nadiah Feel free to reach out to me via email (nazirulasrar@sph.com.sg), for collaborations and radio interviews!

Singapore stocks were lower at about 2.20pm today as investors digested more earnings from notable names including Olam, ComfortDelGro and Sheng Siong.  The Straits Times Index fell 0.7 per cent to 3,893.81 points then, with a value of S$1.10 billion in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch today, we have Olam, after the agribusiness giant today reported a net profit of S$38.4 million for the second half ended Dec 31, down 83.4 per cent from the previous corresponding period.  Elsewhere, from Beijing opposing US President Donald Trump’s latest threat to slap an extra 10% duty on Chinese imports, to ByteDance’s TikTok investing US$8.8 billion in data centres in Thailand over five years – more international and corporate headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – more on the ongoing saga surrounding CDL - and what to note from a statement by its Group CEO Sherman Kwek out last night.  But first, here’s a quick snippet of our conversation on CDL. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

When you think of the Women’s Premier League in Singapore, the Lion City Sailors probably come to mind—and for good reason. As the 3-time reigning champions the Sailors often dominate the headlines, and their opposition. But in 2024, two standout individuals from Geylang International stole the spotlight at the WPL Awards. Ratna Suffian was named Coach of the Year, while Farah Nurzahirah picked up Young Player of the Year honours. So, how did they defy expectations? And will they be able to close the gap on reigning champions LCS in 2025? We’ve hear from the both of them on Sports Minutes! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/albirex-niigatas-manami-fukuzawa-named-womens-premier-league-player-of-the-year Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Bitcoin dropped to a three-month low of $84,900 on February 27, breaking below $85,000 for the first time since early January. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw more than $1 billion pulled in just one day earlier this week. This marked the largest one-day outflow since Bitcoin ETFs debuted last year. What are the driving factors behind this massive withdrawal? What are the broader implications for Bitcoin’s future? Meanwhile, Dogecoin, originally a parody of Bitcoin, became a major player in the cryptocurrency market due to its meme-driven appeal and a valuation reaching billions. Now, Dawgz AI is shaping up to be the next crypto to hit $1, is it just hype? Or does it have serious profit potential? On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Jason French, Executive Director, Clients, Sygnum to find out more. 

The Codette Project is a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to empowering minority and Muslim women and girls by providing them with the skills, resources, and opportunities to succeed in the tech industry. Founded in 2015 by Nurul Jihadah Hussain, The Codette Project was created in response to the significant underrepresentation of women from minority backgrounds in technology fields. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nurul Hussain, Founder, The Codette Project, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Naz Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

On February 24, 2024, Mr. Koh Seng Choon, founder of Dignity Kitchen, was named The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year for his incredible work in empowering individuals with disabilities. Since founding Dignity Kitchen in 2010, Mr. Koh has created meaningful employment opportunities for people who face social and economic challenges, including those with disabilities, former inmates, and single parents. And despite facing significant struggles, such as running the foodcourt at a loss in its early years and a devastating fire in 2024, Mr. Koh’s commitment to inclusivity and social change has touched the lives of hundreds. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Mr. Koh Seng Choon, Founder of Dignity Kitchen, to share more about his story and what this award means to him.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Naz Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Gordon PWC has partnered with Tequila Tromba, a globally renowned brand founded by Marco Cedano, the legendary creator of Don Julio, to offer an exclusive tequila cask investment opportunity. With a fixed 8.5% annual return, investors can purchase blanco tequila casks, age them for three years, and sell them back to Tromba for their prestigious extra-añejo production. As global demand for premium aged tequila continues to soar, this unique investment offers a compelling alternative to traditional assets like stocks or real estate. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Samuel Gordon, CEO, GORDON PWC, to find out more.

An unprecedented number of multi-cornered fights could feature in the next Singapore general election. At least six group representation constituencies (GRCs) are drawing interest from multiple opposition parties. Checks by ST found that five GRCs might see three-cornered contests between the PAP and two opposition parties. They are Ang Mo Kio, Nee Soon, Pasir Ris-Punggol, Sembawang and Tanjong Pagar. And one constituency – Tampines – could form the backdrop of a four-way showdown.  With various political parties vying for ground, are multi-cornered fights now harder to avoid? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies to find out more. 

Singapore shares dipped at about 2pm today as investors continued to mull earnings from notable names including ST Engineering, CapitaLand Investment, and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. The STI was down 0.08% at 3,904.89 points then with a value turnover of S$1.08 billion in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. The group reported a net profit of 3.6 billion yuan (S$659.3 million) for the second half ended Dec 31, which is 50.5 per cent higher than the corresponding year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from more on the ongoing saga surrounding City Developments Limited, to a solid set of earnings out of AI chip titan Nvidia – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  Also on deck – how Hong Kong’s main stock index hit above 24,000 points for the first time in three years. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. 

In today's digital age, children are spending more time online than ever before, but with that comes growing concerns about their safety. From privacy issues to online predators, the internet can be a dangerous space for young users. Kieran Donovan, a former lawyer turned cybersecurity entrepreneur and founder of k-ID is setting out to address this very issue. k-ID protects and empowers kids and teens online by enabling games and services to easily create age-appropriate experiences for any user, any age, anywhere in the world. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kieran Donovan, Co-Founder & CEO, k-ID to find out more.