Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Teenage pregnancy in Singapore is on the rise for the first time in nearly two decades. According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, 244 babies were born to teens aged 19 and below in 2024, a 7% increase from the year before. This marks a notable reversal after nearly two decades of decline, where teen birth rates had steadily dropped from a high of over 850 in 2005. What’s driving the rise of teenage pregnancy in Singapore? And what more could be done to support teen mothers? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong spoke to Melisa Wong, Executive Director of Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support, to discuss the causes behind the recent uptick, the crucial role of parents, the gaps in support systems, and what more can be done to ensure no teen has to face pregnancy alone.

Singapore shares fell today to track losses in the region. The Straits Times Index was down 0.59% at 4,216.18 points at 2.44pm Singapore time with a value turnover of S$1.11B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Airlines, after the company reported a 58.8 per cent drop in Q1 FY2026 net profit to S$186 million yesterday, even as revenue rose 1.5 per cent to S$4.8 billion.  Elsewhere, from how China’s government spending hit its highest level in nearly two decades, to how the greenback is strengthening against the Singapore dollar, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

With the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Harry Kewell, Nick Montgomery and Mano Polking on the list, Singapore’s search for Tsutomo Ogura's replacement signals ambition. But will reputation trump relevance? Deepanraj Ganesan, who exclusively broke the shortlist for The Straits Times, sits down with Sports Minutes to share his thoughts. READ MORE:  https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/world-cup-winner-fabio-cannavaro-among-list-of-top-names-for-singapore-football-coach Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

It’s not just markets that are volatile - it’s our minds. Behind every investing decision is a tug-of-war between logic and emotion. Why do smart people make risky, all-or-nothing bets? And what if the key to long-term success isn’t bold moves, but small, deliberate ones? Should this “all-or-nothing” approach to investing stop?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Steve Brice, Global CIO, Standard Chartered, to find out more.

A section of Tanjong Katong Road South collapsed, forming a sinkhole that swallowed part of the road and a car near an active sewer construction site.  The driver was rescued with minor injuries — but the incident has sparked serious public concern. What causes a sinkhole to occur? What are the civil legal ramifications arising from this incident? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with David Ng, Chairman of the Civil & Structural Engineering Technical Committee at the Institution of Engineers, Singapore, to find out about the causes of the sinkhole. Hongbin Jeong also speaks with Daniel Tay, Director at BR Law Corporation, as he explains the legal implications of the sinkhole.

YY Group, a Nasdaq-listed company headquartered in Singapore is redefining how people, technology, and essential services connect across borders. Once a local manpower provider, YY Group has evolved into a global powerhouse operating across 12 countries. With innovations like the YY Circle Super App and YY Smart iClean IoT platform, they’re transforming how businesses — from hotels and retail to residential sectors — manage people, property, and performance. It’s not just about cost savings or efficiency. It’s about rethinking the very nature of work. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Jason Phua, Group Chief Financial Officer, YY Group Holding Limited and Mark Niu, Group Chief Strategy Officer, YY Group Holding Limited, to find out more.

Singapore shares moved lower today as investors looked ahead to a week of corporate earnings. The Straits Times Index was down 0.25% at 4,250.35 points at 2.46pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$898.75M seen in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Airlines, after its chairman Peter Seah was redesignated as a non-independent director at the company’s annual general meeting on Friday.  Elsewhere, from a trade deal reached between the European Union and the United States, to how Chinese AI firms are forming alliances in a bid to develop a domestic ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign technological know-how – more international headlines remain in focus. Also on deck – expectations ahead of big-tech earnings out this week from Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Football's household names may have graced the pitch - Arsenal, AC Milan, Newcastle. But thousands of seats remained untouched. What should’ve been a celebration of the beautiful game has instead become a flashpoint, with fans voicing frustration over ticket costs and accessibility. So were the fans truly priced out? Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

It’s back to the offshore and marine industry today as we dive into a company that often makes the list of top movers on the Singapore Exchange.  You might have guessed it by now – yes, we’re speaking to Seatrium Limited or the enlarged entity formed after Sembcorp Marine completed the S$4.5 billion acquisition of its industry peer Keppel Offshore and Marine in March 2023.  Named after a combination of the words “sea” and “atrium”, Seatrium aspires to be a premier global player in providing engineering solutions for the offshore, marine and energy solutions. Today, its key business segments include Oil & Gas, Offshore Wind, Repairs & Upgrades and Carbon Capture and Storage and New Energies, with the firm increasingly focusing on sustainable solutions as the global maritime industry transitions to cleaner energy use and embarks on decarbonisation efforts.  Its presence meanwhile can be felt around the world, with shipyards as well as engineering and technology centres and facilities in Singapore, Brazil, China, India, the Middle East, the US and even more. Now, Seatrium is an interesting company to look at because the firm’s leadership managed to turn the business around in slightly less than two years.  In February 2025, the firm reported a net profit of S$120.9 million for its second half ended December. The showing marked a reversal from the net loss of S$1.8 billion seen in the year ago period.  The performance meant a full-year net profit of S$156.8 million for Seatrium, a marked improvement from the S$2 billion loss seen the year prior, and first full-year profit since the merger with Keppel Offshore and Marine.  The road ahead for the firm remains positive, with the company reporting a net order book of S$21.3 billion as at the end of March, with project deliveries stretching to 2031. But really, how does the firm assess its turnaround strategy and the road ahead given volatilities relating to global trade and oil prices?   On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Chris Ong, CEO, Seatrium.

Car ownership in Singapore has never felt more out of reach — with COE prices soaring past six figures, often eclipsing the cost of the car itself.  The latest bidding round in July saw yet another spike, raising fresh questions: is this simply the cost of a land-scarce nation, or is it time to rethink the COE system altogether? But, would an overhaul of the COE system create more problems than it solves? On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Say Kwee Neng, Managing Partner, ONE Strategic Consulting LLC and Terence Fan, Assistant Professor Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, SMU, to find out more.