Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek
About
Get a head start to your work day with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek from 6am to 9am. Listen to insightful discussions on the stories and issues that matter the most to you and be apprised of the markets and the companies to watch.
SEP 30, 2025
30/09/25 - Companies To Watch: Sony Financial Group offers fresh opportunity in Japan’s financial servicesAfter soaring more than 30% on its Tokyo debut, Sony Financial Group is one of the hottest new listings in Asia. But is it just IPO buzz, or a long-term play for investors?
Join Dan Koh and Emaad Akhtar as they find out why Sony decided on a spin-off of its banking and insurance arm, how investors should think about this new stock, and what it signals for Japan’s corporate landscape.
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10:45
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SEP 30, 2025
30/09/25 - Morning Shot: Laid Off, What Next? The recent retrenchments at Agoda have stirred debate after clauses in its severance terms drew criticism from unions and the Ministry of Manpower. The saga highlights bigger questions facing workers in Singapore: What should employees expect in a layoff, what rights do they retain, and where are the boundaries of employer obligations?
So how are severance agreements usually structured, what recourse exists if workers feel pressured, and should Singapore move towards stronger legal protections on retrenchment benefits? Ian Lim, Partner, TSMP Law Corporation and head of TSMP’s Employment & Labour team, joins the Breakfast Show to break down the legalities and what this means for both workers and employers.
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09:45
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SEP 30, 2025
30/09/25 - US Markets Wrap: Can the US rally keep rolling into Q4, and what a shutdown means for the economyAfter five straight months of gains, the S&P 500 is heading into a historically volatile October with strong momentum on its side. Growth looks solid, consumption remains resilient, and AI is giving GDP a powerful boost. Conversely, inflation, Fed policy, and the looming U.S. government shutdown still cloud the outlook.
Dan Koh speaks with Sonu Varghese, Vice President & Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group, to unpack the forces driving markets, the risks ahead, and what investors should be watching as we enter the final quarter of the year.
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11:29
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SEP 29, 2025
29/09/25 - Bigger Pic: Shutdown Jitters, Tariffs, and Asia Credit ResilienceAs Washington edges closer to a government shutdown, contradictory signals in the US economy are keeping investors on edge, from a cooling labor market to resilient growth and consumption. Meanwhile, Trump’s tariffs remain unpredictable but markets seem largely unfazed. Mel Siew, Portfolio Manager for Asia Public Credit at Muzinich & Co, also examines how China’s Golden Week may reveal consumer strength, why EM and Asian credit are seeing strong inflows, and where opportunities are emerging in credit markets.
Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang
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09:35
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SEP 29, 2025
29/09/25 - Breakfast Bites: Friends or Clients? Navigating awkward catch-upsWe’ve all been there: an old friend suddenly pops back into your life, and you’re excited to reconnect… until you realize they’re now an insurance agent, life coach, or some other professional, and you’re the target of a pitch.
In this episode of Breakfast Bites, we explore the delicate balance between supporting a friend and protecting your wallet, with practical tips on how to handle these tricky “friend-or-client” moments without making things weird.
Presented by Audrey Siek and Ryan Huang
Produced by Audrey Siek
Edited by Trisha Yeong
Photo and music credit: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors
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05:14
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SEP 29, 2025
29/09/25 - Companies To Watch: Starbucks’ billion-dollar resetStarbucks has dominated for decades, but consumer habits are shifting and smaller cafés are stealing time and traffic. Add in layoffs and closures, and the world’s biggest coffee chain is suddenly on the defensive.
Join Dan Koh and Ryan Huang as they digest the latest on the coffee chain’s restructuring plan, shifting consumer trends and what it all means for global investors.
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12:31
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SEP 29, 2025
29/09/25 - Mind Your Business: Building a business on brainpowerThe bottleneck in education isn’t content, it’s capacity. Attention spans are shrinking, working memory is under strain, and technology risks eroding the very skills students need to succeed.
The Breakfast Show speaks with Hoa Ly, Co-founder and CEO of Nuroe about building a venture that brings science out of the lab and into family life.
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11:53
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SEP 29, 2025
29/09/25 - Breakfast Special: Bridging the AI Gap - Why Boards Struggle to Turn Investment into ImpactAI is now at the top of the agenda for many boards across Asia, but turning those investments into business value has proven far harder than expected. Egon Zehnder’s latest CIO survey shows 60% of Asian boards prioritise AI, yet most organisations still struggle to scale projects or see real returns.
So what explains this gap between ambition and outcomes? What kind of leadership do companies actually need to unlock AI’s potential, and how might the answer differ in Southeast Asia’s corporate landscape? Burcu Bicakci, Partner at Egon Zehnder, joins the Breakfast Show to unpack the leadership challenge behind AI adoption.
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14:54
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SEP 26, 2025
26/09/25 - US Markets Wrap: Inflation, Global Equities, and China’s Tech ReboundDaniel Tan, Portfolio Manager at Grasshopper Asset Management, discusses why global equities may be running ahead of fundamentals, and where fresh catalysts could emerge. From China’s tech rebound to defense stocks and the dollar’s slide, we explore the forces shaping markets into year-end.
Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang
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08:06
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SEP 26, 2025
26/09/25 - Mind Your Business: Building a business in the long kangMost of us in Singapore don’t think twice about the longkang, until it floods. And we rarely think about the people who keep them clear, even though their work keeps our city safe from floods, pests, and disease. Too often, these essential jobs are stigmatised, seen as “less meaningful” or “less dignified.”
The Breakfast Show invites Shaik Nifael, Founder, Jetters Incz to share how he built a company in one of Singapore’s least glamorous industries and turned it into a purpose-driven business recognised as a Companies of Good.
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14:37
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