Let's Talk, Singapore

Recent market turbulence and fears of a banking sector meltdown have certainly added to the calls for terminal rates. But will inflation allow them? The Federal Reserve and traders alike will pay very close attention to Friday’s core PCE numbers, as will the Swiss National Bank to their inflation data on Friday. US GDP announcement is also expected on Thursday, how will the numbers impact the mark...

The spotlight is on China this week as government officials and business leaders gather in Hainan for the annual Boao Forum that's taking place in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak.  What's in store for the China's economy? Dan Wang, Chief Economist at Hang Seng Bank China shares her insights on where the superpower is headed.   [Find Us on Podcast Platforms] Awedio | Apple Pod...

What does it take to build your dreams? For some its career - for some its wealth - for others its building your dream home.  In this special podcast series brought to you by Citi Commercial Bank in celebration of  International Women’s Day we will speak to inspiring professionals who embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and champion the power of women in the working world. In today’s episode, Ho...

ESG has become an increasingly popular approach to investing in recent years. In our special episode on sustainability brought to you by UOB ASEAN Conversation, Lyn Lee Foo and Ryan Huang speak with Adrian Ow, Head of Business Enablers & ESG Solutions, UOB, on the growing importance of ESG investing for both businesses and individuals, the benefits it can offer to both investors and society, a...

Singapore’s Parliament is currently taking a customary mid-term break for two weeks. The prorogue marks the mid-point of the Government’s current term.  Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University and Former Nominated Member of Parliament   shares his take on whether a cabinet reshuffle is on the cards as the Government reviews its priorities and direction. Highlights...

If you are a SME and thinking of expanding overseas, what are the key things to consider? One of the ways is to find a partner based in that country, who’s well versed with the law and regulation there. What should that checklist look like? On Mind Your Business, Lyn Lee Foo finds out from Gordon Ho, Managing Director, Golden Eye Corp - a young Singaporean who found the gap in this space and is no...

Turbulence across the banking sector in the past few weeks has prompted the question of whether we are teetering on the edge of another financial crash. Who and what is actually at risk and can it be contained with the safeguards in place?  Plus with China dropping its zero-Covid policy last year, relaxing rules for property lending, are we seeing opportunities in China? On the Bigger Picture, Wil...

If you love drinking bottled water, it seems there are many just like you in Singapore. A recent report has found that people here consume the most bottled water and spend the most on it per capita, far more than any other country.  So why do people here feel the need to buy bottled water, given that water from the tap is safe to drink? Dr. Corrine Ong Deputy Director & Senior Research Fellow,...

Great leaders are often inspired by role models in their life.. In our Mind Your Business' Monday chat with C-Suite, our guest is someone who looked up to both his biological father as well as the founding father of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. He is Rajeev Kannan, Co-Head of Asia Pacific Division, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). How has both father figures shaped his outlook on life an...

The banking crisis is casting a shadow over markets – Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature Bank crisis, First Republic Bank and the latest to join the list - Deutsche Bank. Shares of the German bank plunged the most in three years on Friday, suggesting that a week of soothing words from central bankers and politicians have failed to calm broad worries about the financial sector. What can we make of...

World leaders gathered for two high-level climate meetings last week - the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial in Denmark and UN Water Conference in New York. Under the spotlight of it all - how far are we from the targets set by the 2015 Paris Agreement? And how are our water consumption patterns affecting the availability of that lifeblood resource globally?  Adjunct Professor Jean Palutikof, Foundin...

Singapore’s total fertility rate (TFR) is down to a historic low of 1.05. But the good news is that a recent survey shows that young single Singaporeans want children. Eight in 10 aged between 21 and 35 polled  say they want to marry and 77 per cent want children. Dr. Gillian Koh, Deputy Director (Research) at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) which is part of the National University of Singap...

Hilde Jenssen, Nordea Asset Management’s Head of Fundamental Equities discusses how to navigate the banking sector opportunities for investors in the wake of the SVB fallout and Credit Suisse takeover by UBS, as well as whether companies are in place to pass on rising costs to consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is on the checklist of small businesses when they think of going global? I guess one of their top priorities is payments. And partnering the right fintech company can probably help to save cost, save time and increase scalability.  On Mind Your Business, Lyn Lee Foo and Ryan Huang find out more about the collaboration between Low Cher Hao, Director, SME at Airwallex - a global payments and fi...

Millions of people and companies worldwide will be switching off their lights when the clock strikes 8.30pm on the 25th of March. Yes, the annual Earth Hour is back!  Swati Mandloi, Assistant Market Transformation Manager, WWF-Singapore shares an insider perspective on the gaps faced in pushing the world towards net-zero and what needs to be done to better tackle competency greenwashing   [Find Us...

Is there liberal opposition to what is going on, even in a more diverse India with a raucous democratic tradition? Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests.  In this episode, we discuss how and why, across the complex region of South Asia, majorities are convinced...

What can indie media production firms do to stay ahead of the game in a world dominated by streaming platforms and content creators? Award-winning Director and Founder of Giraffe Pictures, Anthony Chen shares his personal journey in putting Singapore on the international film stage and the challenges behind getting funding See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the 2023 World Happiness Report, Singaporeans are happier this year compared to a year ago! But, how do we measure happiness? A number of factors including social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption - all evaluate the differences among peoples' happiness levels in different parts of the world. To give us a better understanding of the report Nick Powd...

Dwyfor Evans, Head of APAC Macro Strategy at State Street Global Markets  discusses why the Federal Reserve seems confident to push on with further rate hikes, as it announced a widely expected 25 basis points rate hike. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a wrap to China President Xi Jinping's state visit to Moscow to meet with its President Vladimir Putin. But still no clear sign whether China's efforts to play the role of peacemaker is yielding results. Karen Alter, Norman Dwight Harris Professor of International Relations at Northwestern University weighs in with her perspectives on the Chinese leader’s peace mission to the Kremlin, and the...

With the global push for climate change, scientists and climate activists are pushing for more to be done, both on an individual and national level. But do you really know what's the link between the melting icebergs in Antarctica and what you're experiencing miles away from that end of the world?  Kong Man Jing - or better known as “Biogirl MJ” - the founder and host of online science channel Jus...

Sue Trinh, Managing Director, Co-Head: Global Macro Strategy, Manulife Investment Management discusses the US Federal Reserve's priorities as it wraps up its what has been described as one of its most uncertain policy meetings in decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Work-life balance is one of the pain points for many teachers in Singapore, despite the pay increase at government-supported preschools. But are such efforts enough to improve the well-being and working conditions of early childhood educators?  David Lee, founder of DNC Education shares his insights on how the situation impact the quality of early childhood education here? See omnystudio.com/liste...

According to the International Monetary Fund - adding more women to the labour force should bring larger economic gains than an equal increase in male workers. But - to do so - support of women in the working world from male colleagues is key. In this special podcast series brought to you by Citi Commercial Bank in celebration of  International Women’s Day we will speak to inspiring professionals...

What would a Money FM 89.3 mascot look like?  That's one of the questions we asked our guest in this Mind Your Business (SME) episode. As one of the SMEs that was hit hard by the pandemic, what did they do to stay afloat? Plus with digitalisation progressing at full speed these days, is the mascot industry moving with the times? Well, according to our guest, they are, with ChatGPT and A.I. in the...