Live Well with Michelle

Is the AI trade still unstoppable - or is smart money quietly rotating? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we unpack Nvidia’s blockbuster US$43 billion quarter and CEO Jensen Huang’s bold pushback against fears of an AI threat to software firms. We examine why Salesforce is leaning on a US$50 billion buyback as shares slide - and what that signals about SaaS sentiment. Closer to home, we explore how OCBC is prioritising special dividends over buybacks as Singapore payouts surge to multi-year highs. In UP or DOWN, we look at diverging fortunes across Air New Zealand, Qantas, Axon Enterprise and Lynas Rare Earths. We also check in on the Straits Times Index after Genting Singapore’s sharp drop. Finally, Malaysia’s durian-fuelled tourism push rounds out today’s Last Word.

In China’s 2026 market, survival isn’t about buying the dip - it’s about finding the moat. In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we dissect why investors are shifting from momentum plays to structural dominance with Willie Keng, Founder of Dividend Titan (https://www.dividendtitan.com/). We explore four defining themes and why hyper-competitive sectors are being left behind. From China Tower’s near-97% telecom dominance to Tencent’s evolving identity from growth darling to cash-generating powerhouse, we unpack where durability lies. We also assess whether LVMH can maintain pricing power amid China’s luxury fatigue and the rise of local brands. Finally, in an easter egg  moment, our guest shares his view on the rush for gold from the value investor perspective.

Will dividends, one-off gains and Washington politics reshape market momentum this week? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we unpack why OCBC’s Q4 profit rose 3% to S$1.75 billion and what its special dividend signals about capital strength. We compare performance across Singapore’s banking trio - OCBC, DBS, and UOB - and examine why OCBC shares are outperforming. Then we turn to Singapore Airlines, where record operating revenue contrasts sharply with a steep drop in net earnings after last year’s Vistara one-off gain. From there, we assess what investors will be listening for as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union - tariffs, cost-of-living pressures, and election risk in focus. In UP or DOWN, we track deal tension around Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, Stripe, PayPal, JPMorgan Chase, and Genting Singapore, before checking whether the STI is clawing back losses.

From a pop-up in London  to a 10-brand international group - how do you scale in F&B without losing soul? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, Chef-Founder Dave Pynt of Burnt Ends Hospitality Group shares his journey from dishwashing to growing a culinary empire. Hard work, an attention to customer needs and smart pivots figure large, in his 13-year journey. We unpack the growth of the group from Michelin-starred Burnt Ends to Meatsmith and The Ledge in the Maldives and Bali. Dave reveals how new concepts are born while staying true to the group’s wood-fire ethos. We explore the operational realities of scaling talent, culture and consistency across borders. Finally, we ask what’s next - partnerships, new markets, or experiences diners haven’t imagined yet.

What if the real AI opportunity in 2026 isn’t in the stocks everyone already owns? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we explore whether the crowded “AI Builder” trade is reaching diminishing returns and where capital could rotate next. Guest Raisah Rasid, Vice President, Global Market Strategist, JP Morgan Asset Management, maps out under-owned sectors quietly integrating AI for margin expansion. We examine how traditionally low-margin industries could see profitability leap as automation scales. With Trump’s global tariff rate rising from 10% to 15%, we unpack what Asia’s calm reaction - including the STI’s resilience - is signaling. We also look at how investors can diversify away from mega-cap concentration without losing AI exposure. Finally, we ask what contrarian AI view could define the rest of 2026.

Is AI now a valuation divider? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we unpack UOB’s 7% dip in Q4 profit to S$1.41 billion and what it signals for Singapore banks amid a shifting rate environment. FedEx moves to recover tariff costs after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, just as President Trump doubles down on global tariffs - rattling U.S. stocks. IBM tumbles 13% on fears an Anthropic programming breakthrough could disrupt legacy code businesses. Meanwhile, Paramount raises its bid for Warner Bros Discovery in a high-stakes move to counter Netflix. We also assess how the STI is holding up amid global volatility and whether this is rotation - not retreat. Companies in focus: UOB | FedEx | IBM | Anthropic | Paramount | Warner Bros Discovery | Netflix

Is Singapore witnessing a durable capital markets revival - or the final act of a liquidity-driven surge? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we examine whether the STI’s charge past 5,000 marks a structural re-rating of Singapore equities or a cyclical rebound fuelled by policy tailwinds. With Jason Saw, Group Head of Investment Banking at CGS International, we unpack Budget 2026’s S$1.5 billion EQDP top-up and the new Anchor Fund - and what they mean for price discovery and pre-IPO pipelines. We explore how improving breadth - with more small- and mid-cap counters trading above S$1 million daily - signals deeper liquidity and broader participation. The conversation turns to sector leadership: banks, offshore oil & gas, construction, AI-linked plays, and real estate - where fundamentals and sentiment intersect. We assess whether rising IPO activity and corporate actions point to sustainable issuer confidence across primary and secondary markets. Finally, we ask how investors can “read” momentum cycles to gauge when expansion gives way to consolidation.

Markets are anything but sleepy this morning as we come to grips with US global tariff hikes to 15%.  US President Donald Trump is reimposing temporary 15% tariffs after a Supreme Court setback - Michelle asks what this means for Singapore exporters and global trade deals. MIchelle and Ryan unpack how Digital Core REIT, backed by Digital Realty, is pivoting to an “offensive” strategy despite a vacant US asset and weak unit performance. We examine how earnings take centre stage with Nvidia, Workday, Dell Technologies and Intuit all reporting this week. In UP or DOWN, we size up Latin America’s record rally, Rolls-Royce Holdings’ buyback plans, CoreWeave’ funding jitters, and Minor International’ debt-cutting REIT ambitions. Closer to home, the STI extends gains past 5,000 as Yangzijiang Shipbuilding and Genting Singapore outperform while Singapore Exchange lags. And for our Last Word, both explore how Japan’s “nekonomics” turned feline fandom into a multi-billion-dollar GDP contributor.

What if you could own a slice of a prime building in Singapore for the price of a holiday - and trade it like a stock? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, we unpack whether real estate tokenisation is a breakthrough or just a buzzword. What do you actually own? How does tokenised property differ from a REIT? How as an investor can you tell  whether liquidity is real or theoretical? Does Singapore’s strong REIT market make tokenisation redundant - or is there a genuine access advantage? To what extent is tokenisation of property an opportunity in Singapore - or still a wait-and-see experiment? Michelle Martin speaks with Keith Ong, CEO, RealVantage for his view on the issues.

Can you really call yourself the world’s biggest retailer if your edge comes from the cloud? In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we unpack how Amazon dethroned Walmart in 2025 revenue - but only thanks to AWS. Strip out cloud, and the retail crown looks very different. We examine Walmart’s softer profit print, its quiet online gains, and why its stock is beating Amazon year-to-date. In Singapore, DBS upgrades Genting Singapore amid strong cash reserves and a constructive gaming environment. Plus: Sea Ltd & Google’s AI tie-up, Nestlé’s ice cream exit, New Balance vs Nike, OUE REIT & UOB’s One Raffles Place sale, and the STI’s charge past 5,000. Hear about: Amazon | Walmart | AWS | DBS | Genting Singapore | Sea Ltd | Google | Nestlé | New Balance | Nike | OUE REIT | UOB | Yangzijiang Shipbuilding | Mapletree Logistics Trust