Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

COP29 is underway. And the key topic this year is money. In fact, COP29 has been dubbed the "finance COP" as delegates gathered at Azerbaijan need to resolve a deal for up to US$1 trillion in annual climate finance for developing countries. Getting agreement on a new finance target is seen as a critical step in building trust between rich and poor nations as. But so far, the track record hasn’t been great. So what can we expect at this year’s COP 29? What should you be looking out for? And why is this important for us?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Edwin Seah, NbS Partnerships Lead, The Nature Conservancy and Head of Secretariat, SCeNe Coalition, to find out more. 

Music royalties are an increasingly attractive asset class. In fact, in recent years, music royalties have attracted investment from Blackstone, KKR, Kobalt Capital Limited and Dundee Partners.But how does investing in music royalties actually work? And does it make sense to add them to your investment portfolio? How can you strike a chord with music royalties? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gary Young, CEO of Royalty Exchange to find out more. 

Despite the increase in eco-friendly solutions in the hospitality industry, there remains a gap in providing premium hydration options that align with sustainable practices on a large scale. As a result, many establishments continue to rely on imported bottled water and single-use packaging, contributing to a high environmental cost. BE WTR is revolutionising the industry by offering sustainable, locally-sourced water solutions that match the quality of natural spring water while minimising the carbon footprint and waste. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mike Hecker, Founder & CEO of BE WTR to find out more. 

Singapore shares began trading lower today, extending global equity market declines overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.7 per cent to 3,687.17 points after 47.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Singtel. The telecommunications operator’s net profit for the first half ended September fell 42.4 per cent year on year to S$1.23 billion, in the absence of a S$1.2 billion exceptional gain booked in the same period a year prior.  Elsewhere, from US President-elect Donald Trump naming Tesla’s Elon Musk to a role aimed at creating a more efficient government, to how Asian markets are reacting to uncertainties surrounding another Trump presidency – more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Carl Ashton, Investment Counselor, Citi Private Bank.

It looks like Elon Musk will be part of the new incoming US government in January.  President-elect Donald Trump has named Elon Musk to a role aimed at creating a more efficient government, handing even more influence to the world's richest man who donated millions of dollars to help Trump get elected. Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, an entity Trump indicated will operate outside the confines of government. What exactly is the Department of Government Efficiency? Will this department bring any benefits to the government and the people of America? And what does this new role mean for Elon Musk?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Pushan Dutt, Professor of Economics, INSEAD to find out more. 

Heading into the year-end AFF Championship, Singapore's head coach Tstuomo Ogura is still searching for his first win at the helm of the Lions. So how important will the upcoming friendlies against Myanmar and Chinese Taipei be, to build momentum ahead of the regional competition? And how big an issue will the striking conundrum be for Singapore, with Ikhsan and Ilhan Fandi set to miss out? Safuwan Baharudin sits down with Sports Minutes ahead of the Lions' double-header to discuss this and much more. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/lions-on-the-hunt-for-hitmen-with-fandi-brothers-set-to-miss-mitsubishi-electric-cup Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

It seems like it’s been a while since we heard about non-fungible tokens or NFTs. The hype around it from a couple years ago has indeed died down. A report published by NFTevening said that the market for NFTs has been in such a dramatic downturn since 2023 that 95 percent of them are considered “dead.” So are NFTs truly dead? Is investing in NFTs even worth even looking at?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Chyi Yan Hshieh, Head of Business Development, Polygon, to find out more.

As pet ownership rises in Singapore, so has the level of care provided by owners. But what happens when you’re not around? Perhaps you’ve got holiday plans lined up and no one to care for your fur babies?  A pet-sitter is a good idea, but they’re not only costly, it’s also hard to find a qualified and trusty pet-sitter at affordable rates.  Meet Godpawrents, a newly-launched pet-sitting platform that aims to eliminate all those troubles. on The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Maurice Png, Founder, Godpawrents to find out more.

Singapore may soon be the first in the world to give the police powers to control the bank accounts of stubborn scam victims. Proposed new laws could give police more powers to stop scam victims from sending money to scammers through their banks, especially if victims refuse to believe they are being scammed. With the scam situation in Singapore worsening over the years, is this measure simply too drastic or a step in the right direction? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with David Sun, Crime Correspondent at The Straits Times to find out.  Read more of this article at The Straits Times. 

The use of diamonds as an investment and financial hedging tool has grown rapidly over the last few years. Investing in diamonds offers a unique opportunity, blending aesthetic appeal with potential financial gain. But what should you note when investing in diamonds? What factors determine the value of a diamond? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Fabio M Cascapera, Hon Treasurer, Diamond Exchange of Singapore, to find out more about diamond investing.