Your Money with Michelle Martin

Fresh lemon-blue colours and sweet treats await you at the newest Italian breakfast spot in Singapore. The queue outside of Fortuna Italian Trattoria - fully booked for about a year and half since its opening - is well-known, and from Oct 1st, there is likely a similar line forming for Fortuna Terrazza, its sister outlet. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode of Influence welcomes Egon Marzaioli, the 33-year-old founder of Fortuna, as he unveils his bold new concept - Fortuna Terrazza. Egon is expanding his culinary footprint with an Amalfi Coast-inspired café. He shares how he’s recreating seaside café culture with dishes like RicottaMisu Hot Cake and Amalfi Lemon Sorbetto, and why hospitality is always at the heart of his craft. From Napoli to Australia to Singapore, Egon reflects on his global journey, his people-first philosophy, and what it takes to build restaurants that diners keep wanting to come back to.

Singapore is on track to hit super-aged status next year, and the housing market is bracing for change. Hosted by Michelle Martin, today’s show dives into the launch of Perennial Living’s private luxury assisted living project in Kovan, with monthly fees from $8,900 to $17,000. Will this premium model succeed alongside government-led Community Care Apartments, or remain a niche for the ultra-wealthy? We explore the demand, risks, and investor opportunities in this emerging sector. Plus, Michelle and Ivan Cai, CEO, Crestbrick discuss whether more private developers could follow, and what the government’s role should be. Finally, the conversation shifts to Kampong Bugis, a 4,000-home waterfront precinct in the URA’s Draft Master Plan 2025, and why this new approach to development could reshape investor strategies.

Can the viral power of Baby Shark turn into long-term investor value? Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, today’s Market View dives into Pinkfong’s Seoul IPO ambitions and whether Korea’s cultural IP is set for another global wave. Micron’s upbeat earnings forecast also has Wall Street buzzing - what does it mean for the semiconductor cycle? In our Up or Down segment, we put Malaysia’s Gamuda, Indonesia’s Merdeka Gold, Zijin Gold, and Heineken under the spotlight. Plus, a check-in on the Straits Times Index, with Seatrium and Singtel making notable moves. And finally, our Last Word takes us inside the quirky retail empire of Don Don Donki, as succession looms for its Gen Z heir.

Martine Shin, founder of Timo & Farmers, joins Influence to share how her family’s organic blueberry farm in South Korea inspired a business bringing Korea’s best seasonal produce to Singaporean doorsteps in just 48 hours. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode explores the leap from corporate life to mission-driven entrepreneurship, the realities of building a farm-to-table supply chain,  Tune in for insights on sustainability, entrepreneurship, and the big goals shaping Timo & Farmers over the next five years.

How could the new iEdge Singapore Next 50 Indices  reshape valuations, visibility, and investor opportunities. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode dives into how the Next 50 indices could unlock liquidity, ETF flows, and future growth for S-REITs within a context of falling rates. REIT specialist and Wealth Advisory Director, Kenny Loh breaks down the impact of falling borrowing costs and where income-focused investors should be looking now. From Centurion Accommodation REIT’s IPO to data centres, retail, and healthcare REITs - find out which sub-sectors are set to shine.

Gold at record highs, silver at a 14-year peak - are we in a new commodities supercycle? Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we break down what’s driving the surge in gold, silver, and even copper prices. We also dissect insider selling at high-flying companies like Nvidia, Macy’s, Motorola Solutions, Oklo, and NetApp amid Wall Street’s rally. Plus, we debate UP or DOWN calls on Netflix, Adani Power, Pfizer, Nvidia, Oracle, and Mapletree Investments. How did the Straits Times Index perform after testing support at the 4,300 level? And for our Last Word: Fat Bear Week 2025 in Alaska - why investors and bears alike are bulking up.

Are there moves you should make now with your portfolio? The US central bank slashes rates by 25 basis points to 4 - 4.25%, with cautious guidance pointing to only a handful of cuts ahead. Standard Chartered’s Global Market Outlook calls this a “delicate balancing act,” with investors urged to rotate from US to Asia ex-Japan equities. EM local currency bonds and locking in yields on high-quality debt emerge as key strategies. Audrey Goh, Head of Asset Allocation at Standard Chartered Bank’s Wealth Solutions Chief Investment Office, joins us to map out opportunities amid volatility. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode unpacks the Fed’s move and its global portfolio implications.

Buffett cashes out, markets rally, and anime slays Hollywood! Asia-Pacific markets surge as Berkshire Hathaway ends its legendary 17-year run with BYD. SGX launches two mid-cap indices spotlighting names like CapitaLand Ascott Trust, ComfortDelGro, and Sheng Siong. In the U.S., Seagate and Micron ride the AI wave as “boring tech” takes center stage. RTX battles cyberattacks, Singtel’s Optus faces scrutiny, and Demon Slayer conquers the box office. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, uncover the week’s market movers and money-making trends shaping global portfolios.

Given this mix of lower rates, a strong stock market, and lingering uncertainties, how should investors balance risk and return in their portfolios for the rest of the year? And if you wanted to skip complicated products like ILP's, what would alternative options be? Michelle Martin finds out with Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment, Providend.

Nvidia’s $5B bet on Intel has Wall Street buzzing. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, this episode unpacks what the deal means for the chip industry, markets, and investors. We explore the small-cap rally, IPO action with Netskope and Zijin Gold, and the latest moves from CrowdStrike, FedEx, ComfortDelGro, and Hong Kong Land. Discover why tech giants are teaming up and what it signals for AI and data centers. Plus, we break down market highs, sector trends, and Singapore’s STI outlook. Get insights into what’s driving momentum - and where risks remain.