SG Budget Conversations 2026

Budget 2026 is putting mid-career workers front and centre, with a range of measures designed to support reskilling, career transitions, and staying competitive in an AI-driven economy. From enhanced SkillsFuture programmes and expanded training allowances to new AI initiatives and a merger of workforce agencies for more seamless career support, there’s a lot for workers to navigate.  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Allison Ching, Executive Career Coach at Dream, Do, Deliver, and Muralee Reddy, Co-Founder of Mamashop Inc., about what Budget 2026 means for mid-career workers, from upskilling, career transitions, AI-readiness, and navigating the changing job landscape. For more Budget 2026 insights:  https://www.moneyfm893.sg/whats-on/budget-2026/

Budget 2026 sets aside $50 million for a new SG Partnerships Fund to back ground-up community projects as part of a broader push to strengthen social bonds and build what Prime Minister Lawrence Wong calls a “we first” society. Corporate volunteer and donation tax incentives have also been extended to 2029, signalling a continued effort to encourage businesses to play a larger role in social impact. But will funding and tax deductions be enough to shift behaviour? According to the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s latest study, only 14% of companies in Singapore engage in corporate volunteering, with leadership interest cited as the biggest barrier.  Megan Fernandes, Head of Community Investment, Prudential Singapore joins the Breakfast Show to examine whether Budget 2026’s measures can translate intent into sustained action and what it will take for businesses to step up. For more Budget 2026 insights: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/whats-on/budget-2026/

Artificial intelligence featured prominently in Singapore’s Budget 2026, with expanded support measures and new initiatives aimed at embedding AI across the economy. But announcements are only one part of the story. The bigger question is: are Singapore SMEs ready to move beyond pilots to meaningful adoption? In this Budget-special edition of Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Kelvin Koh, Co-Chair, Singapore Enterprise Chapter of SGTech on rising SME interest, common scaling barriers, the role of change management and partnerships, and what would signal a national tipping point for AI adoption. For more Budget 2026 insights: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/whats-on/budget-2026/

What does Budget 2026 really mean for Singaporean youths? For young adults stepping into the workforce? For couples thinking about starting a family? Was this Budget a hit or did it miss the mark? And are the support measures enough to ease the pressures young Singaporeans are feeling today? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Keith Yap, Founder and Host of The Front Row Podcast, to find out more. 

From Singapore’s AI ambitions to China’s EV and bubble tea giants - where is the smartest risk-reward right now? Singapore’s Budget 2026 signals an accelerated AI roadmap just as Chinese growth names like BYD, XPeng, Pop Mart and Guming Holdings capture investor attention, hosted by Michelle Martin. We unpack Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s innovation-led strategy and what it could mean for Singapore equities and AI infrastructure plays. Then we pivot to China’s EV landscape as global registrations soften and policy shifts test demand resilience. BYD’s battery leadership and export muscle face off against XPeng’s tech-driven autonomy ambitions. Pop Mart’s IP-powered collectibles and Guming’s beverage expansion highlight the power - and risk - of consumer identity investing. Are these companies building durable global franchises, or riding policy tailwinds and cyclical momentum?

Budget 2026 sets out a mix of adjustments and incentives that may shape the operating environment for Singapore’s small and medium-sized enterprises going forward. From changes to foreign manpower qualifying salaries to measures aimed at supporting internationalisation and business transformation, the signals are clear but the impact may not be uniform across sectors. So how should SMEs interpret this year’s Budget? Where might cost pressures be most keenly felt, and how might firms respond as policy shifts take effect over the next two years?  Chor Khieng Yuit, Senior Business Correspondent, The Straits Times joinsthe Breakfast Show to share her insights. For more Budget 2026 insights: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/whats-on/budget-2026/

 AI is now at the heart of Singapore’s economic strategy. From supercharging adoption to building talent pipelines and reshaping how businesses operate, what does this mean for you, your job, and your company’s future? Are businesses ready, and will workers keep up? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kwek SoCheer, Partner, Digital Solutions at PwC, to unpack how Budget 2026’s AI push will shape business strategy, workforce transformation, and Singapore’s position in the global AI race.

The Singapore market pulled back today following Budget 2026 announcements, even as the government unveiled measures to boost existing equities, startups and new listings. The Straits Times Index (STI) crossed the 5,000-point barrier before the statement was delivered yesterday, buoyed by a strong 43.5 per cent net profit increase for Singtel.  The momentum did not hold, though. In the first hour of trading today, the STI fell 1.1 per cent back below the 5,000 mark to 4,963.68 points.  In terms of counters to watch, we have iFast, after the digital bank and wealth management platform’s net profit rose 70.4 per cent to S$32.9 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2025, up from S$19.3 million in the year-ago period.  Elsewhere, from the potential winners and losers from Singapore’s Budget 2026, to how Anthropic raised US$30 billion in its latest funding round, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

One of the changes in Budget 2026 is the halving of the maximum Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate for early deregistration of cars - from $60,000 to $30,000. But on the surface, this looks technical. On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Lee Nian Tjoe, Senior Transport Correspondent at The Straits Times to find out how this change could reshape behaviour in meaningful ways for car owners and the second-hand market.   For more Budget 2026 insights: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/whats-on/budget-2026/

Can your child’s $10,000 today really turn into $86,000 - and what does Budget 2026 have to do with it? Michelle Martin unpacks the latest Budget goodies - from CDC vouchers and CPF top-ups to corporate tax rebates - and what they mean for families, seniors and businesses. Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties, breaks down the new voluntary CPF investment scheme and whether those in their late 40s should even consider taking market risk. We explore the bold 864% CPF growth strategy for kids, and the real trade-offs between long-term compounding and short-term liquidity. Plus, what Singapore’s new AI Park at One-North could mean for District 5 property values, rental premiums and long-term capital appreciation. A practical, future-focused conversation on money, mindset and opportunity - hosted by Michelle Martin.