Your Money with Michelle Martin

You think you’re diversified… but what if you’re just betting on the same seven tech stocks again and again? The so-called Magnificent Seven now dominate both US and global indices, quietly shaping returns for anyone holding “broad” ETFs. We examine whether global diversification is becoming important again as big institutional players like Vanguard cut back on UK exposure and also talk about the rise and rise of gold. Has one of our best known commentators changed his long-standing tactical view on the metal? Michelle Martin speaks with Arun Pai, Associate Partner at Monk’s Hill Ventures, about how to spot unintended exposure and what a smarter diversification strategy really looks like, hosted by Michelle Martin.

Bad news is piling up, yet markets keep climbing - so which signal should investors trust? Gold surges past US$5,000 an ounce as investors hedge against trade wars, political risk and warnings of a looming “capital war” from Ray Dalio. Elon Musk claims robots will outnumber humans and could make up most of Tesla’s long-term value, even as the car business faces slowing deliveries and rising competition. We ask whether stock prices are rising because the economy is healing - or simply because the dollar is weakening. With US market concentration at record highs, what does this mean for portfolios heavily exposed to American equities? Michelle Martin speaks with Swapnil Mishra, author of Investing for the Clueless, Reckless and Overly Cautious, about whether this is resilience, illusion, or the start of a structural shift 

From aircraft crises to AI cables and a surprise trade pact, markets are being pulled in very different directions at once. Boeing’s earnings revive hopes of a turnaround as deliveries improve after years of safety and production failures, though investors remain cautious. We size up corporate winners and losers in an UP or DOWN round, with General Motors and UPS showing resilience while UnitedHealth’s outlook weighs on sentiment. Attention shifts to geopolitics as India and the European Union seal a landmark free trade agreement that could reshape supply chains and export flows. In tech and industry, Corning’s multibillion-dollar AI data-centre deal contrasts with Meta’s risky push into paid social media subscriptions. Singapore stocks break new ground as the STI hits fresh highs led by banks and property names, while Micron’s US$24 billion expansion anchors the island’s semiconductor ambitions, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Hear about Boeing, General Motors, UPS, UnitedHealth, Corning, Meta, Puma, Anta Sports, Micron, DBS, OCBC, UOL, Jardine Matheson, Wilmar International.

Michelle Martin asks if falling interest rates are changing the maths for Singapore’s savers who love hoarding cash. With billions still parked in T-Bills and money-market funds, investors now face a new risk: opportunity cost. Michelle speaks with Afdhal Rahman of OCBC about what could trigger a shift from cash into equities, bonds and gold. They unpack why Asia ex-Japan may look more attractive than the US as the dollar weakens and valuations diverge. The conversation also explores how bonds are becoming income engines again, and why gold is moving from hedge to strategy. What happens when staying on the sidelines costs more than riding out volatility. 

A brutal US winter storm knocks out power, freezes gas production and sends energy prices - and energy stocks - sharply higher. Gold smashes through US$5,000 an ounce as the US dollar weakens, pushing investors toward precious metals and currency hedges. Unexpected winners emerge on the SGX, with pawnshop operator MoneyMax riding the gold rally. In corporate news, Nvidia edges closer to overtaking Apple as TSMC’s top customer, while CoreWeave surges on fresh AI investment. Back home, Singapore banks weigh on the STI as Wilmar shines, highlighting sector rotation in local markets. Market View unpacks what extreme weather, soaring commodities and shifting tech leadership mean for investors - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Hear about : Nvidia · Apple · CoreWeave · Cheniere Energy · Excelerate Energy · Quanta Services · MoneyMax Financial Services · Mapletree Logistics Trust · OUE REIT · UOB · DBS · OCBC · Wilmar International

Today Michelle picks up a thought-provoking book by a serial British entrepreneur Gary Ashworth. The book unpacks a simple framework; what if becoming rich wasn’t about genius or luck - but about repeating one maths movement, ten times?  Michelle Martin speaks with self-made multi-millionaire and author Gary Ashworth about his “Double Up” wealth framework. The conversation explores responsible leverage, three-year wealth cycles, and why starting small doesn’t mean thinking small. Money and Me is hosted by Michelle Martin, and this episode reveals how patience, structure, and psychology shape long-term financial freedom. 3 High-Impact Insights: Wealth grows through repeatable maths, not one big win - what if doubling capital consistently became your new north star? Value is created, not found: improving assets is as important as buying them cheaply. Time and psychology matter as much as money - most people fail because they hesitate about getting started. No journey is perfect.

United Overseas Bank has surged back into favour as investors reassess Singapore’s banking sector after months of caution. Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang unpack why UOB’s provisioning fears have eased and what rising target prices signal for bank valuations. They examine JPMorgan’s “sell list” and what it reveals about pockets of risk in an otherwise resilient market. The conversation widens to US markets, where Intel’s plunge and a heavy earnings calendar - from Apple to Tesla - shape sentiment. In UP or DOWN, they assess developments at TikTok, Berkshire Hathaway, USA Rare Earth and Frasers Centrepoint Trust. Market View is hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Join the conversation, featuring companies including UOB, DBS, OCBC, Intel, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, TikTok and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.

Markets are rattled by geopolitics - but panic is rarely a strategy. From US military action in Venezuela to tensions over Greenland, investors are questioning whether uncertainty now warrants a shift in portfolios. We examine how US equities have actually behaved through geopolitical shocks - and what history suggests about staying invested. The Magnificent 7 start the year unevenly, raising the question of whether leadership is broadening beyond mega-cap tech into SMID caps. A weaker US dollar prompts a closer look at currency exposure in global portfolios - risk, opportunity, or both? With noise rising across geopolitics and policy, we ask the hardest question: sit in cash, or stay the course? Hosted by Michelle Martin. Guest: Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment, Providend.

Intel beats earnings - but supply bottlenecks spook markets. We unpack why Intel sold off despite stronger revenue, and what supply constraints signal for the chip cycle. From semiconductors to staples, Procter & Gamble bets on premium pricing with luxury diapers - is pricing power holding up? US inflation stays sticky at 2.8%, reshaping expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts and equity valuations. Markets rally as tariff threats fade, with investors choosing policy relief over economic caution. UP or DOWN on Ubisoft, JPMorgan Chase, Suntec REIT, and City Developments Limited - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.

A 140-year-old healthcare giant shows it can still grow, as Johnson & Johnson beats earnings expectations and doubles down on its ambition to lead the global fight against cancer. On geopolitics, markets rebound after U.S. President Donald Trump walks back tariff threats tied to Greenland, reframing the issue around mineral rights and strategic access instead. We unpack whether this is real policy clarity - or another case of TACO economics - as U.S. stocks rally on relief. In UP or DOWN, we look at L’Oréal’s big bet on Indian beauty tech, Lululemon’s brand stumble with squat-failing tights, Ryanair’s monetisation of controversy, and whether CDL is poised for a catch-up trade. Back home, the STI tests key support as only a handful of blue chips finish in the green. And in our Last Word, a tool-using cow in Austria challenges what we think we know about intelligence - in markets, and in life - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.