Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The US government has sued software giant Adobe, accusing it of violating consumer protection laws with "hidden" termination fees and a convoluted cancellation process.

Singapore stocks opened stronger following overnight gains on global markets. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent to 3,303.77 points after 41.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Seatrium, after the company said yesterday that it had been informed that the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Commercial Affairs Department are conducting a joint investigation into offences potentially committed by the company and/or its officers.  Elsewhere, from Hong Kong ending its decades-long practice of shutting its markets during typhoons to Foxconn finally meeting its billionaire’s eight-year stock target, more international and corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the key developments for the day. 

Thatcher Baker-Briggs is a trailblazing figure in the world of wine. Thatcher has advised NBA players and curated wine lists at prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants, establishing himself as a sought-after wine consultant and importer. On R.I.C.H., Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Thatcher Baker-Briggs, Founder, Thatcher's Wine, to talk about whether you should start investing in wine today. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

When you’re travelling to South Korea, one thing you may want to learn in Korean is asking for directions. But what if you stumble upon a Gen Z when you’re asking for directions, and they reply with a slang word your Google translator can’t even help translate for you? Here's a useful slang word you might want to take note of. 

On What's Trending, a Great Dane named Kevin, named after the character from Home Alone, has been crowned the world's tallest dog by Guinness World Records. But aside from being known as the world's tallest dog, Kevin is known for his fear of the family's vacuum. Also, the 2024 Mercer Cost of Living Survey has revealed Hong Kong as the most expensive city for expats to move to, followed by Singapore. The survey examined 226 cities based on the cost of over 200 items, including transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.

Luxury travel, once synonymous with lavish accommodations and traditional opulence, is undergoing a profound transformation. Discerning travelers now seek experiences that go beyond the conventional definitions of luxury, embracing a new era of exclusivity, authenticity, and sustainability. That is why the no-plastic policy that award-winning Farmhouse Resort and Spa implements on its campus heralds a new era for the hospitality industry, setting the benchmark for sustainable tourism.  A profit-generating arm of the Smiling Gecko aid project co-founded in 2014 by Swiss artist Hannes Schmid, all of the profits are funnelled back into the wider initiative.  Hannes Schmid, Founder of Smiling Gecko explains more. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Feature produced and edited by: Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada Do you have a story to tell on The Evening Runway show? Contact nadkoh@sph.com.sg

Singapore equities began trading in negative territory today, mirroring overnight losses in Europe. In the morning, the Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.2 per cent lower at 3,319.11 points with 18.1 million securities having changed hands. In terms of companies to watch today, we have Soilbuild Construction. Shares hit a 5-year high early on after the group announced that it had bagged a S$647.5 million Tuas Port construction contract the day before. Elsewhere, from more on how Singtel’s Optus Mobile intends to defend proceedings filed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority regarding a 2022 cyberattack, to the Bank of Japan dialling down on its bond buying programme, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Too Jun Cheong, Assistant Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.

Talk about a movement swifties…  Thousands of Taylor Swift fans made the earth move by cheering and dancing at her three Edinburgh concerts last weekend! Fans took the singer’s encouragement to Shake It Off literally, with monitoring stations detecting seismic activity from 6km (3.73 miles) away. 

It’s a Father’s Day special on Sports Minutes..ahead of the day dedicated to celebrating dads on 16 June. Delwinder Singh is a household name for fans of local football, but did you know that his dad - Ranjit Singh, was once a drug-addict who was incarcerated in the early 90s? How did that affect Delwinder’s upbringing, and how did Ranjit turn over a new leaf to become a responsible dad? The father-son duo speak to Zia-ul Raushan on Sports Minutes in a candid, frank and honest conversation ahead of Father’s Day. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

It’s all about insurance coverage today as we speak to a company that provides coverage for Singaporeans including the nation’s protectors – the MINDEF.  Formed by the merger of Aviva Singapore and Singlife in a deal valued at S$3.2 billion in 2020, the current Singlife is one of the largest homegrown financial services companies in the lion city.  The company offers a variety of insurance products ranging from life insurance, medical insurance, car insurance, travel insurance, home insurance, to investment linked-plans. It is also seeing a number of key developments of late. For one thing, the company has become a fully owned subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Life in a transaction valuing Singlife at S$4.6 billion.  The insurer said the ownership change will not affect its day-to-day operations, but will enable Singlife to pursue its long-term growth ambitions, with the capital to drive regional expansion and to grow as an integrated financial services company. But what can we expect when it comes to Singlife’s strategic direction for the future?  Speaking of strategic direction, Singlife had in May this year launched what it calls the Singlife Dementia Cover. Touted as the market’s first insurance plan offering yearly payouts for persons with dementia, the policy also covers other mental health conditions such as bipolar and schizophrenia disorder.  But what were the complexities in valuing the insurance premiums and payouts for conditions relating to dementia, versus other health conditions such as cancer? And how does such a product pipeline position Singlife as a first mover in the silver economy?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Pearlyn Phau, Group CEO, Singlife.