Let's Talk, Singapore

If you’ve always dreamed of a MUJI home, it’s now possible with MUJI Renovation.  This tailored planning service covers everything from renovation and lighting design to home furnishing, where experts will design your space to suit your tastes and needs. The debut of this concept in Singapore is an exciting one, since Singaporeans probably share similar concerns with Japanese home owners, from the...

Layoffs have come into the spotlight again recently, after e-commerce giant Lazada axed an undisclosed number of employees in Singapore at the start of the year. It has since apologised for not informing the relevant union about the retrenchment exercise in advance. But have you ever wondered if there’s such a thing as responsible retrenchment, and how retrenchment exercises should be carried out?...

Do you share daily meals with your family? Or, did you as a child? Apparently, just eating together can do wonders for your mental development! Studies have shown that sitting down for family meals has resounding benefits for both kids and their parents: from getting better grades to having better social skills and improving communication.  Audrey, Ryan and Emaad share how often they have family m...

Manu Bhaskaran, CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors, outlines how to read into the implications for Asia from various potential risks, such as conflicts in the Middle East, as well as central bank policy setting changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It's raining cats and dogs."  "Bury the hatchet." "Break the ice." Yes, we use these and other common expressions / idioms from the English language in everyday conversations, and we know what they mean.  But how many times have we ever thought to investigate where they come from? Chances are, very few. Emaad, Ryan and Audrey "wax lyrical" about the origins of some of our favourite expressions. L...

Do you ignore pre-flight safety demonstrations by the cabin crew? And do you fasten your safety belts while the plane is in mid-flight?  Well, these little things could very well go a long way to saving your life when flight emergencies occur. The recent spate of incidents involving airlines has placed aviation safety in the spotlight yet again. How safe are our commercial jets, and how frequently...

In the race against time to save Singapore's limited land space from becoming overburdened with waste, the clock is ticking toward the impending exhaustion of Semakau Landfill by 2035. The daunting reality is that our current disposal methods, relying heavily on waste-to-energy incineration plants and offshore landfills, are unsustainable in a land-scarce nation. One company is championing on-site...

Brenda Vingiello, Chief Investment Officer at Sand Hill Global Advisors shares her insights on how soon we might see rate cuts, strength of the US economy, whether US consumers will be feeling the pinch from inflation levels in 2024, and if we'll be seeing more support for smaller companies.  Presented by: Ryan Huang Producer: Yeo Kai Ting ( ykaiting@sph.com.sg )  Photo credits: pixabay & its...

Shekhar Jaiswal, Head of Equity Research, RHB Bank Singapore,  discusses expectations on how the STI will fare in 2024 and factors that will support a stronger performance; investment themes in the first quarter; opportunities and names to watch out for in the small-cap space; as well as how aggressively investors should be increasing their exposure to REITs and the type of REITs they should focus...

In this digital age, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) face a myriad of challenges. While digitalisation can empower SMEs with greater productivity, enable them to gain new markets and make better-informed decisions, it can be challenging due to limited resources and expertise. Fortunately, SGTech offers a lifeline through the DT-SME Programme. To understand more, we are joined by Yean Che...

People are real salty about MSG! Many believe this controversial condiment is unhealthy; so let’s settle this once and for all on The Breakfast Show. Audrey, Ryan and Emaad get into the nitty-gritty and chat out what MSG actually is, how much sodium is in it (hint: it's got way less sodium than regular table salt) and where you can find the most MSG. The answers may surprise you!   Presented by Au...

Coming on the back of the $2.8 billion money laundering case that rocked Singapore in 2023, on this episode of Morning Shot - we dive into how businesses can mitigate the risk of money laundering more effectively with Charles Poon, Co-Founder & Chief Products Officer, Handshakes . Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey Siek Produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting ( ykaiting@sph.com.sg ) Photo cr...

Mark Newton, CMT, Managing Director & Global Head of Technical Strategy, Fundstrat Global Advisors weighs in on the current market momentum and how markets are looking to price in rate cuts, how the banking sector is navigating headwinds so far, as well as the strength of the US Dollar in the coming months.  Presented by: Ryan Huang Producer: Yeo Kai Ting ( ykaiting@sph.com.sg )  Photo credits...

We all rely heavily on toothpaste as an essential component of maintaining oral hygiene. But some of the key ingredients found in most commercially available formulations of the product (like abrasives, which remove plaque and stains on our teeth) make toothpaste a pretty handy cleaning agent. Scratches on your mobile phone screen? Crayon on your wall? Carpet stains? Silver jewellery in need of po...

Yeap Junrong, Market Strategist, IG,  discusses the unexpected drop in US PPI numbers last week and its potential impact on Fed rate cut expectations; early Q4 earnings results for major US banks as well as companies / sectors to look out for this week; expectations for US retail sales and China Q4 GDP numbers; and whether the Bitcoin ETF optimism is evaporating as the price of the cryptocurrency...

Owning gold has transcended time and remains a timeless practice. Today, it is seen as a hedge against inflation. But how do we own gold today, where do we store it and how do we trade it? Plus, how do we decipher the authenticity of gold?   We find out more from Victor Foo, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Singapore Precious Metals Exchange (SGPMX) - a private platform that allows investors...

The Democratic Progressive Party candidate Dr William Lai Ching-te’s win at the presidential polls marks a historic leadership transition within the independence-leaning party.  With Dr Lai branded by China as a threat to peace winning an unprecedented third consecutive term for the DPP - what’s next for Taiwan and its relations with China, as well as the United States?  On t...

Are you aware that the 7-Eleven stores that you frequently visit are actually operated by franchisees? How much does it cost to own one store? And how easy is it to be your own boss of such a store? Ashley Ong Ming Soon, Senior Franchise Executive, 7-Eleven (2023 Franchisor of the Year) & Jaymes Lee Kim Meng, 7-Eleven Franchisee (2023 Runner Up Franchisee of the Year) share their exciting jour...

From flying taxis to foldable TVs and ultra-smart cars, the CES tech trade show in Vegas was quite the event! Audrey looked through lots of devices that were on display, and picked out some of the stuff she thinks the whole breakfast crew would like.  Presented by Audrey Siek, Ryan Huang and Emaad Akhtar Edited and produced by Audrey Siek   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite inflationary pressures and other economic headwinds, Singapore and Japan’s markets stayed resilient in 2023, while China's property crisis impacted key APAC partners. What can investors look forward to this year?  Regina Lim, Head of Research,APAC, M&G Real Estate gives us the outlook for 2024. Presented and produced by Audrey Siek Podcast edited by Emaad Akhtar ( eakhtar@sph.com.sg )...

After coming to a near standstill during the pandemic, students are now fervently embracing the opportunity to study abroad. Discover the key considerations influencing students’ choices of country and university, and how technology is transforming the application process. Fangzhou Jiang, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO), Crimson Education - a leading university admissions consultancy, s...

Difference in standards across countries and regions can sometimes make sustainability reporting tricky. So how can such differences be better reconciled?  Simon Schillebeeckx, Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Handprint  and Ramki Ramakrishnan, Managing Director, Temenos APAC share about the challenges involved in collecting, streamlining and ensuring quality of ESG data, and how knowing how...

Jay Woods, CMT, Chief Global Strategist at Freedom Capital Markets shares his expert take on whether the markets are seeing a rotation, what he makes of the latest inflation data and capital flows, and how the latest earnings season might pan out. Presented by: Ryan Huang Producer: Yeo Kai Ting ( ykaiting@sph.com.sg )  Music/sound credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors  See...

There's a trend in real estate that has started to completely evolve and reshape the way many people live… co-living. But, as Wong Kar Ling, Managing Director of Southeast Asia and Head of Strategy and Global Operations, The Ascott Limited explains, it's beyond just sharing common spaces - it's building a community and providing the setting for residents to bond. Presented and produced by: Audrey...

In the age of social media and instant gratification, it appears we have lost the wonderful art of doodling - picking up a pen or pencil and scribbling on a blank page (or three) of your notebook for no rhyme or reason. It doesn't matter whether you possess the gift of artistry. Doodling provides a host of mental health benefits (such as relief from stress, improved concentration, and enhanced cre...