The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

The uneven post-pandemic recovery, record-high inflation, soaring interest rates and geopolitical and market uncertainty have hit Singaporeans’ financial wellness. This year’s OCBC Financial Wellness Index dipped to 61, returning the score to 2020 levels. And the decline comes on the back of poorer investment returns, increased debt stress and derailed retirement plans. On Money in the Market, Hongbin Jeong spoke to Aaron Chwee, Head of Wealth Advisory, OCBC Bank to find out some of the investment trends amongst Singaporeans.  Highlights:  1:09 - What does OCBC’s Financial Wellness Index measure? 5:02 - What are some investment trends amongst Singaporeans? 6:30 - Why are young investors still keen on cryptocurrencies despite the crash? 8:37 - Why is there a decline in the average rate of return on investments by Singaporeans? 10:40 - Are Singaporeans ready to face a financial crisis?

Savills Research reports that rents of private residential properties are continuing their uninterrupted run across landed and non-landed properties. The rental index of these property types hit record levels in 24 years since the start of the URA time series in 1998. On Money in the Market, finance producer Hongbin Jeong speaks to Alan Cheong, Head & Director of Research & Consultancy at Savills to find out more.

A great rotation seems to be brewing in Asia as Investors look to North Asian markets, shifting their attention from markets in Southeast Asia. A recent Bloomberg article reported that the nascent revival in North Asian equities is being touted as the start of a potential bull run. But risks still remain. On Money in the Market, finance producer Hongbin Jeong speaks to one of the authors of the article, Ishika Mookerjee, deputy team leader for Asia stocks at Bloomberg News, to find out more. 

The year 2050 marks a key milestone in the pursuit of Net Zero. But do index providers play a role when it comes to ESG and net zero investments? On Money in the Market, finance producer Hongbin Jeong speaks to Priscilla Luk, Managing Director and Head of Global Research & Design, APAC at S&P Dow Jones Indices to find out more.

Are you a K-pop fan? If you are, you’re probably all out to support your favourite K-pop band. But did you know there's a way to directly invest in the future of your favourite K-pop band? You can do that via the KPOP and Korean Entertainment ETF or also known as KPOP ETF? So what is this KPOP ETF? On Money in the Market, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jangwon Lee, CEO of Contents Technologies, who is also the creator of K-pop ETF to find out more.  Highlights:  01:08 - What is KPOP ETF? 03:08 - How are underperforming shares of Korean entertainment firms affecting the ETF? 04:28 - Is investing in the ETF safer?  07:07 - Why should investors take a chance in investing in the KPOP ETF?  10:44 - Outlook for the KPOP ETF?

Oil markets have been seesawing, while gold prices are being pushed up by a weaker greenback. To take a closer look at oil and gold prices, finance producer Hongbin Jeong speaks to Priyanka Sachdeva, Market Analyst at Phillip Nova, to find out what’s moving oil prices, and how high gold prices can go. 

According to Deutsche Bank’s Private Bank Chief Investment Office’s 2022 ESG client survey findings… more than half of investors regard climate change as the most important factor affecting their investment decisions. On Money in the Market, finance producer Hongbin Jeong speaks to Markus Müller, Chief Investment Officer ESG & Global Head Chief Investment Office at Deutsche Bank to find out why there’s an uptick in those regarding climate change as the most important factor and why millennials are more aware on ESG issues than other groups when it comes to their investments. 

Can an app help you live to 100? According to a study from Prudential - more than half of the 800 Singapore residents aged 25 to 65 surveyed say that mobile devices and apps are critical tools in preparing for rising longevity. To find out more, Rachel Kelly spoke with Prudential Singapore's Chief Customer Officer Goh Theng Kiat. …

The technology industry has been facing a fundamental overhaul with rising geopolitical tensions and dwindling investor appetite for money-losing startups. On Money in the Market, Jonathan Curtis, Portfolio Manager at Franklin Equity Group, joins us to explain how current markets are affected by the tech industry and what kind of impacts a worldwide recession will have on the tech industry.

A petition for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme to be put on hold and thoroughly reviewed has been turned down by the Government, HDB is going to launch 9,500 BTO flats on November 23rd,  mortgage interest rates hit 4.5%, AND Singapore Home Sales Slumped to Lowest Since April 2020 - are the curbs finally kicking in? Rachel Kelly discusses the latest property sector news trending this week with Nicholas Mak, Head of Research and Consultancy, ERA Real Estate.