Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), the committee that determines Singapore’s electoral boundaries, has been formed. This now kicks off the official countdown to GE2025, which must be held by November.   In the past four elections, the time between the committee’s formation and Polling Day has ranged from four to 11 months. This means that voters could go to the polls in May, or even earlier if the committee is able to complete its work in time. So how does this timeline affect political strategies for various parties? What’s next leading up to the next general elections?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks withEugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University to find out more. 

In this day and age, technology is woven into nearly every aspect of daily life, from online learning to digital entertainment and social media. While technology offers countless benefits, it also brings challenges that we need to navigate carefully. In a move to promote children’s health in the digital age, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Social and Family Development have launched the Grow Well SG initiative. Grow Well SG is a new national health promotion strategy aimed at improving the well-being of children and addressing rising concerns over digital exposure and unhealthy habits. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development and Member of Parliament for Punggol West SMC to find out more. 

Space is approaching a new frontier.  The space economy is expected to be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035 as satellite and rocket-enabled technologies become increasingly prevalent, according to a new report. So why should you consider this space?  How exactly can you invest in space?   On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ornella Hernandez, Presenter, Moniify Playbook, to find out.

Singapore shares started trading in positive territory this morning, tracking overnight gains in global markets. The Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.2 per cent higher at 3,804.19 points after 36.7 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch today, we have Mapletree Logistics Trust, after its distribution per unit (DPU) fell 11.1 per cent year on year to some 2 Singapore cents for its third quarter ended December. Elsewhere, from how SoftBank soared more than nine per cent after US President Donald Trump said it was included in a new US$500-billion venture to build infrastructure for AI in the US, to how gold prices climbed to a fresh 11-week high – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Tareck Horchani, Head of Dealing Maybank Securities Singapore.

In the world of advanced technologies driving a greener, more sustainable future, few innovations have sparked as much excitement as hydrogen fuel cells. These groundbreaking energy sources have the potential to transform transportation and fundamentally alter our approach to power generation. At the forefront of this shift is Spectronik, an innovative company co-founded by our next guest. Specktronik is pushing the limits of hydrogen fuel cell technology and leading its integration into a wide range of industries - from drones to urban mobility. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Jogjaman Jap, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Spectronik to find out more.

The ultra-rich today are being measured by new standards, with some financial commentators now suggesting $100 million is the new yardstick for anyone who wants to keep their head held high at private equity parties. So what are they doing to grow their wealth? What investments are they looking for? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Lionel Lee, Money Expert, The Better Foundation, to find out more.

Donald Trump pronounced the start of a "golden age" in the United States after taking the oath for a historic second term as president on Monday, using his inaugural speech to lash out at what he described as a "broken" society that he would rescue. Can Mr Trump deliver on his promised 'Golden Age of America'? What can we take away from Trump’s inauguration?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow with the US Programme at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore for a deeper analysis.

Singapore shares began the day trading in the negative territory, as markets abroad finished mostly flat after US President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) dipped 0.3 per cent to 3,796.55 points 23.1 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have Sembcorp Industries after its wholly owned subsidiary and PT PLN Nusantara Renewables yesterday launched a utility-scale integrated solar and energy storage project in Indonesia’s new capital.  Elsewhere, from more on global investors’ reaction to US President Donald Trump’s first day in office, to the impact of a quake in Taiwan on semiconductor factories located on the island - more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Dan Chang, Investment Specialist and Trading Representative, PhillipCapital.

Zora Health is Asia’s leading fertility, reproductive, and family health platform, dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace life with options and without limitations. Founded by Anna Vanessa Haotanto, Zora Health was born out of a deeply personal journey that resonated with thousands - breaking taboos around fertility, egg-freezing, and family planning in modern society. Its comprehensive ecosystem combines cutting-edge digital tools, clinical expertise, and lifestyle resources to support every stage of life, from family planning and hormonal health to parenting and menopause. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Anna Vanessa Haotanto, CEO, Zora Health to share more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Today we’re going to bring you an inside look into an Italian pharmaceutical firm with over 135 years of history.  Founded in 1886 in Naples under the name of Farmacia Internazionale, our guest for today is from Menarini Group, a leading pharmaceutical and diagnostics company with a presence in over 140 countries.  The firm prides itself as a leading provider of important healthcare brands, with its 18 manufacturing plants producing over 609 million packets of products a year.  To this end, Menarini said it operates across the entire commercial value chain, from clinical development, regulatory approval and product launch to lifecycle management with a diverse portfolio of proprietary and partnered brands in key therapeutic fields.  That includes Consumer Health, Dermatology, Allergy or Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Cardio-metabolic, Anti-infectives, Oncology or Specialty Care and more. All in, Menarini reported consolidated turnover of 4.375 billion euros in 2023, with international markets contributing 79% to the numbers. But how much of this is contributed by demand from the Asia-Pacific region?  Meanwhile, Menarini is also seeing a number of interesting developments of late. For one thing, Menarini APAC had in June 2024 expanded its partnership with Pharmacosmos to tackle iron deficiency in patients in Singapore and Malaysia.  So just how important are such licensing deals and partnerships in helping Menarini broaden its offerings while lowering R&D costs? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Glen Godresse, CEO, Menarini APAC.