Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

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.

Singapore stocks started trading in negative territory this morning, despite global markets logging overnight gains. The Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.2 per cent lower at 3,730.59 points after 48.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, after the REIT’s manager today announced that the trust has divested 21 Collyer Quay, an office asset in Raffles Place, for S$688 million to a third party.  Elsewhere, from Grab returning to profit in Q3, to more on expectations of earnings by Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com post Single’s Day sales  – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities.

In the heart of Singapore, there's one football fanatic who is turning the dreams of fans into reality. Mirza Salim is the driving force behind Matchday Affairs, a tour agency that brings the excitement of Premier League matches to life for passionate football fans.  It all came to fruition after Mirza survived two strokes, five brain surgeries, and a lifetime of battling a neurological disorder that affects less than 1% of the world’s population.  On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mirza Salim, Founder, Matchday Affairs to find out more.  

Last Friday, the defence wrapped up its case in the Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh's trial without calling new witnesses. Mr Singh’s case will be heard in court again on Feb 17, 2025, when Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan is expected to give his verdict. Mr Singh is embroiled in controversy stemming from former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan’s lies to parliament in August and October 2021 about accompanying a rape victim to a police station. He faces two charges for giving false evidence under oath during parliamentary committee hearings held in December that year. So what went down so far during the 13-day trial? What can we make of it? And what verdict can we expect?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU), to find out more.

Art has a long history as a transactable asset. Art has always demonstrated long-standing cultural significance and aesthetic qualities, which allows it to be universally appreciated and desired around the world. So what are collectors and investors looking for when it comes to modern and contemporary art? How do auction houses value an art piece? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sandy Ma, International Specialist, Modern & Contemporary Art, Southeast Asia, Phillips, to find out more.