Your Money with Michelle Martin

A single post moves markets, oil swings wildly, and one founder widens his grip - are investors missing the bigger risks? Markets whipsawed overnight as geopolitics, governance and energy shocks collided in real time, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Grab’s proposal to boost founder voting power raises fresh questions about control versus accountability - even as it expands into fintech and M&A. Oil plunged more than 10% after signals of easing tensions, but underlying damage to Middle East energy infrastructure may keep prices volatile. Unusual pre-announcement trading activity is sparking debate about market efficiency and information asymmetry. Meanwhile, corporate moves from Sony, Tokio Marine, Lumentum and Hybe highlight divergent sector momentum. Closer to home, the STI remains under pressure, with broad-based declines signalling cautious investor sentiment.  

Michelle Martin speaks with Eugene Lim, Founder and CEO of “The Assembly Place,” on the lessons from his new book "The Placemaker" which is about this Singapore entrepreneur how used streetsmarts to develop a whole new business model of community living. From launching in 2019 to listing on the Singapore Exchange, his journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. Eugene shares the mindset shifts required to move from one of the youngest real estate agents at age 22 to becoming CEO of a listed company. Plus his plans to extend dignity and community to underserved segments like migrant workers. Hosted by Michelle Martin Guest: Eugene Lim, Founder and CEO of “The Assembly Place” and his book "The Placemaker".

What if one person, one idea, and one restless night could build a global gaming success? Michelle Martin sits down with 33-year-old Yeo Ying Zhi, founder of YYZ Studio, to explore how indie developers are reshaping the gaming industry. From building Havendock into a 100,000-player hit to creating viral web games like Enchanted Heroes, YYZ shares what it really takes to go solo. We unpack the indie business model - owning your IP, taking full risk, and competing without big studio backing. Hosted by Michelle Martin. 

What if the biggest threat to food companies… isn’t inflation  but your shrinking appetite? GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are reshaping consumer behavior, forcing food giants to rethink portions, pricing, and product strategy. Meanwhile, US markets wobble as the Russell 2000 slips into correction territory, raising questions about the durability of the rally. Asian tech earnings from Xiaomi, PDD, Meituan and BYD are now in focus as investors hunt for growth signals. Corporate headlines add to the volatility - from Super Micro’s sharp selloff to Sinopec’s profit drop and Elon Musk’s legal battles. And in tech, Amazon explores a bold return to smartphones, joining Apple, Google, Meta and OpenAI in the race to redefine AI hardware. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Companies in focus: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, OpenAI, Xiaomi, PDD Holdings (Pinduoduo), Meituan, BYD, Coca-Cola Andina, Super Micro, Sinopec, Singtel, Sembcorp Industries, Hongkong Land.

A niche corner of real estate is quietly delivering strong income - but is it built to last? Michelle Martin explores whether purpose-built worker and student housing can offer investors stable, resilient returns in uncertain markets. Hosted by Michelle Martin, with insights from Centurion Accommodation REIT’s Chief Investment Officer Ginny Ang, we unpack how the REIT beat its DPU forecast and what’s driving demand. We examine why worker housing may behave differently from offices and malls - especially during economic slowdowns. With occupancy already near full, the big question becomes: where does future growth come from? Plus, how rising interest rates and a focus on community well-being could shape long-term returns for investors.

A silent gas is shaking global markets - and most investors didn’t see it coming. Michelle Martin breaks down how a supply shock tied to Middle East tensions is rippling through semiconductors, healthcare and aerospace. The conversation tuns to s logistics giant FedEx posts blockbuster earnings. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, both explore how industrial gas leaders like Linde and Air Products could benefit while chipmakers face rising cost pressures. We also unpack Novo Nordisk’s next obesity drug breakthrough, Xiaomi’s massive AI spending push, and strategic moves in Suntec REIT and Hongkong Land. Plus, what’s driving weakness in Singapore’s STI and whether select names like Sembcorp Industries can hold up amid broader declines. From invisible commodities to visible winners - this is a market driven by forces most investors overlook.

Oil above $110, war risks rising - yet markets are climbing… what’s really going on? Michelle Martin explores the surprising resilience of equities as the Fed holds rates steady despite inflation and geopolitical shocks. We unpack how Middle East tensions - from Iran to Qatar - are reshaping energy markets and reigniting inflation fears. At the same time, capital is rotating into AI, with Nvidia at the centre of renewed chip flows into China. Plus, a bold new frontier emerges: chips in space - could this redefine the next phase of computing and investment? All this and more, hosted by Michelle Martin.

AI demand is exploding - but are investors already pricing in too much too fast? Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang unpack Micron’s blockbuster earnings as AI-driven memory demand surges, even as its stock slips on heightened expectations. They explore whether the AI supply chain - from Nvidia-driven demand to chipmakers - is entering a new phase of volatility. Back home, a bullish broker call on Nam Cheong highlights how oil-linked plays are riding geopolitical tensions and offshore activity recovery. The Fed signals no rush to cut rates, sending markets lower - while Tencent, Disney, and Manulife US REIT reflect diverging global corporate momentum. Plus: Singapore’s STI reclaims 5,000 - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.

If you want to bank on the picks and shovels play behind the AI Capex spend, you need to understand growth drivers.  Investors have been piling into semiconductors but what if you wanted to look beyond NVIDIA? As computing demands grow, bottlenecks are springing up like traditional copper wiring slowing data transfers because of their heat constraints.  Enter photonics: a whole field devoted to controlling photons or light. We also ask What if the biggest AI winners aren’t the ones building it - but the ones powering it? Michelle Martin explores the $700 billion AI infrastructure surge reshaping markets, from hyperscaler spending by Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta and Oracle to the hidden bottlenecks in power and data centres. The conversation with Alvin Chow unpacks who really profits from this capex explosion. Michelle and Alvin also explore OpenClaw, the open source viral AI agent phenomenon in China; if OpenClaw boosts productivity, which companies are set to benefit really?

From drone swarms in Ukraine to robots servicing warships, investors are chasing the next battlefield of AI. Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang unpack how little-known players like Swarmer and Gecko Robotics are capturing market imagination despite thin revenues, signalling a shift where real-world deployment matters more than profits. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, the conversation explores how rising oil prices are rippling across industries - from airlines raising guidance to ComfortDelGro passing on fuel costs to commuters. We examine why US markets are rebounding even as geopolitical tensions simmer, and what easing oil prices could mean for risk sentiment. In corporate news, Meta pulls back on its metaverse ambitions, Nvidia restarts China-linked production, and Singtel faces fresh scrutiny after service disruptions. On the local front, the STI surges with Singtel leading gains, highlighting resilience in Singapore equities.