Let's Talk, Singapore

This week has been a busy week of economic data, which includes a range of PMI numbers. The S&P Global Singapore’s PMI came in at 57.6 in August: the fastest expansion since October 2022. What are the key drivers behind the strength of this expansion? Can we expect more to come? Yeap Junrong speaks to Jingyi Pan, Economics Associate Director, S&P Global Market Intelligence PMI Team.

To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C  - as called for in the Paris Agreement - emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. But as the days pass, the world is staring at a growing emissions gap.  Back in 2021, Speed & Scale - a global initiative aimed at pushing leaders to act on the climate crisis - built a plan based on 10 objectives, each with its own set of milestones, or “key results” - to zero out the world’s 59 gigatons of annual greenhouse gas emissions, before it’s too late.  And just recently, Speed & Scale released a global progress report, tracking where the world is making good headway on the road to net zero and where it’s lagging. Most importantly, it points to where we need to go from here in the transition to clean energy, in scaling renewables and cleantech and also in phasing out fossil fuels.  On this episode of Climate Connections, Anjali Grover, Managing Director, Speed & Scale shares more about their blueprint, challenges in tracking some key areas and strategies that can be undertaken to push the world ahead.  Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar Photo credits: Speed & Scale Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Jay Woods, CMT, Chief Global Strategist at Freedom Capital Markets shares his insights on how the US Presidential Election will impact credit markets, whether the ‘Trump trade’ is over and if we will see a ‘Harris’ trade, as well as sentiments surrounding the US non-farm payroll report. Presented by: Yeap Junrong Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: financialsource.co 

Vice President Kamala Harris rolled out a series of economic proposals, including a 28 percent tax on investment income for wealthy individuals that is far lower than the rate proposed by President Joe Biden.  The proposals, which include an expanded tax break for start-ups, mark her biggest policy move away from Mr Biden since taking over the top of the Democratic ticket. On this episode of Morning Shot, Ylan Mui, Managing Director for Strategy at the Penta Group shares her perspectives on the dynamic election duo as the destiny of the White House may hang on a deadlocked fight between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris especially in Georgia and Pennsylvania, two battlegrounds that have been decisive in crowning the last two presidents. Presented by: Audrey Siek Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)

Yeap Jun Rong converses with Christopher Wong, Client Portfolio Strategist, South East Asia at Fidelity International about how a likely September rate cut by the Fed will impact Southeast Asian markets; implications for the region's central banks; Asian currencies that may perform well through the rest of 2024; and expectations for Friday's US non-farm payroll data. Presented & Produced by Yeap Jung Rong Edited by Emaad Akhtar

The upcoming Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Johor Bahru is set to transform the region into a dynamic hub for economic growth and investment. Positioned strategically close to Singapore, this SEZ offers attractive incentives like tax breaks and streamlined regulations, making it a compelling option for Singaporean investors. However, with rising interest in Johor's property market and the promise of improved connectivity through projects like the High-Speed Rail (HSR), questions about sustainability and long-term viability arise. As the SEZ takes shape, understanding its potential impact on both Johor and Singapore becomes crucial. We take a closer look at the opportunities and risks with Govinda Singh, Head of Hotels & Leisure & Real Estate Advisory, Colliers. Presented by Audrey Siek This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg) She produces Mind Your Business, Biz-How-To and Breakfast Special segments on the Breakfast Show. Do contact her for topics: C-Suite, SME, Startups, Health-tech, Sustainability, Property, Intergenerational Family Business, Industry Outlook, Fintech and trending businesses in town.

Yep, it's Audrey's birthday today! Though she won't reveal how old she is, she did bring in some cake today to share with the crew.  There’s something about cake being the centrepiece of most birthdays - but have you ever wondered why? That’s the topic for today’s breakfast bites, as we dive into the sweet tradition of birthday cakes—from ancient rituals to the modern-day celebration. Plus, who really deserves the first slice? Presented by Audrey Siek & Emaad Akhtar Produced and Edited by Audrey Siek  Music and photo credits: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Today's edition of Breakfast Bites is dedicated to the (sometimes) unsung heroes in the employment world: recruiters. On Global Talent Acquisition Day, Emaad and Audrey delve into some unusual hiring practices around the world, and also discuss "blind hiring" recruitment to stave off potential discrimination during the process. Presented by Emaad Akhtar & Audrey Siek Edited by Emaad Akhtar Music and photo credits: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Sonu Varghese, Vice President & Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group shares his insights on what's driving declines seen in Nvidia of late, why September is historically a weak month and which sectors capital flows are rotating into.  Presented by: Willie Keng Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors 

A nationwide study led by Nanyang Technological University found that people who caught dengue and recovered are more likely to face long-term health complications about a year later compared to those who contracted COVID-19.  More specifically, dengue patients have a 55 per cent higher risk of heart complications, such as irregular heartbeats, heart disease, and blood clots, compared with those who had COVID-19. On this episode of Morning Shot, Lim Jue Tao, Assistant Professor for Infectious Disease Modelling at NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine shares more insights from the research. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar  Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases