Let's Talk, Singapore

Chris Weston, Head of Research, Pepperstone, shares his thoughts on whether the market has shifted its timeline for the duration of the Iran war; the implications of equity markets rotating into defensive plays; the sectors most vulnerable to margin pressures should oil prices remain elevated; and why gold hasn't rallied despite the geopolitical risks.  Produced & Presented by: Emaad Akht...

As tensions escalated across the Gulf region, some Singaporeans living there suddenly found themselves facing missile alerts, airspace closures and uncertain routes home. With commercial flights disrupted, the Singapore Government activated evacuation efforts, including a Republic of Singapore Air Force aircraft flown into Riyadh to bring Singaporeans safely back. Among the passengers were Nisar K...

Think you’ve “trained” your body to survive on five hours of sleep? Or that you can catch up on lost rest over the weekend? This World Sleep Day, Audrey and Emaad bust some of the most common sleep myths — from sleeping with the TV on to lying awake in bed. With Singaporeans among the most sleep-deprived in the world, we look at what the science actually says! Presented by...

More than 1,000 private residential developments in Singapore are now over 30 years old, raising urgent questions about how ageing condominiums should fund major repairs and upgrades. The Government is reviewing the Building (Strata Management) Act, with proposals that include lowering approval thresholds for essential works, requiring training for management council members, and potentially co-fu...

On the Bigger Picture, Sarah Stanley, Travel Journalist, The Straits Times  talks about her experience on the Disney Adventure cruise in Singapore (the company's first foray into the Southeast Asian market), whether it enhances the Little Red Dot's push to become a premier cruise destination, and challenges the industry may face in attempting to achieve this objective Produced & Presented...

It isn't a surprise that all eyes have been glued to the continuous flow of headlines emanating from the Middle East of late. But how good is your general knowledge of the region? Emaad tests Ryan on populations, capital cities, intergovernmental organizations and more! Play along!   Presented by Emaad Akhtar & Ryan Huang  Produced by Emaad Akhtar Edited by Trisha Yeong Music credit:...

It has been about a month since Budget 2026 was delivered and the Committee of Supply debates have wrapped up. But beyond the headline measures, what are the early signals emerging for businesses, workers and the broader economy? Ryan Huang moderates a panel with Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance & Manpower, Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore, Ang Yuit, Pre...

Oil prices surged even after the International Energy Agency announced its largest-ever release of strategic reserves. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell as investors weighed the economic fallout from the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Michele Schneider, Chief Strategist, MarketGauge Group discusses how transport stocks could signal deeper economic stress. She also explores...

Tuition is now a $1.8 billion industry in Singapore fuelled by parental anxiety and an increasingly competitive education landscape. But when centres advertise “90% distinctions” or “ex-MOE teachers”, how much context are parents actually getting? The Ministry of Education is working with the advertising industry to develop a code of conduct aimed at curbing questionable ma...

The practice of married couples sleeping in separate rooms isn’t new, but it’s being discussed more frequently today. Some couples in Singapore are also experimenting with what’s known as a “sleep divorce” — choosing to sleep apart to improve sleep quality and, in turn, reduce potential tensions that can arise between partners. A 2025 survey found that 49 percen...

Oil prices have pulled back after an earlier surge driven by fears the Iran conflict could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Crude briefly approached $120 a barrel before retreating as traders bet governments could release emergency reserves to offset potential supply shocks. Confusion over a social media post suggesting a tanker had been escorted through the strait, later contradict...

China has set a 4.5 to 5 percent growth target at this year’s National People’s Congress, signaling a more pragmatic approach as the world’s second largest economy grapples with weak demand, property stress and deflationary pressures. At the same time, escalating tensions around Iran are raising questions about energy security, trade routes and the broader balance of power betwee...

How does a pineapple tart brand stay relevant beyond Chinese New Year? Adrian and Gordon Ang of Kele join the Breakfast Show to share how they transformed a family confectionery into a recognised Singapore Heritage Brand through rebranding, premium positioning, e-commerce strategy and cross-generational collaborations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's appraisal time. Your performance for the year is about to be scrutinised. You might be thinking: should I take on more high-visibility tasks to give myself a higher chance of being promoted? That's the question we explore on today's Breakfast Bites. Emaad and Ryan share the experts' views on why employees choose this path as well as some drawbacks of doing so, including the risk of a widening...

US markets staged a dramatic turnaround after early losses of nearly 900 points in the Dow, closing higher as signals emerged that tensions with Iran may be easing. Matt Maley, Chief Market Strategist, Miller Tabak breaks down what drove the reversal, whether oil markets overreacted to worst-case scenarios, and how investors should interpret geopolitical headline risk. Produced/Presented: Ryan Hua...

Diesel generators still power events, construction sites and mobile operations across Singapore, but carbon pricing is starting to change the cost model. Colin Peh, Founder of GoRental SG joins The Breakfast Show to explain what businesses get wrong about clean energy adoption, why storage matters as Singapore targets 3 GWp of solar by 2030, and how SMEs can think practically about grants and gree...

Deliveroo’s decision to exit Singapore has sparked concerns about higher delivery fees, fewer choices for consumers, and weaker bargaining power for riders and F&B operators. But is this really about one company leaving or is it a broader reset of Singapore’s convenience economy? Sumit Agarwal, Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professor of Finance, Economics and Real Estate at the Nati...

Pan Jingyi, Economics Associate Director, S&P Global Market Intelligence  discusses whether Singapore's latest factory activity numbers suggest continued optimism, the implications of a sharp rise in global manufacturing input prices; what a protracted conflict in the Middle East means for the wider business sentiment / growth outlook; and key takeaways from China's Two Sessions. Produced...

Many professionals hesitate to ask for help at work because they worry it might make them look incapable. But research in workplace psychology suggests the opposite: high performers tend to seek clarification and input earlier, helping them avoid costly mistakes and move projects forward more effectively.  This episode explores why asking for help is often misinterpreted as weakness, and how...

Would you pay your child for scoring an A? Or give them cash for doing chores? We dive into the parenting debate around incentivising kids — from paying for grades to rewarding good behaviour. With Singapore parents already spending billions on tuition, does adding financial rewards motivate kids… or make learning transactional? We break down the poll results and explore where the swe...

Investors are often searching for the next hidden opportunity in the market, sometimes these can be in smaller companies where new catalysts can unlock growth.  Jarick Seet, Head of Small-Mid Caps, Maybank Securities Singapore shares a closer look at two Singapore names with very different stories but potentially strong momentum. One is a familiar engineering contractor exploring technol...

US stocks turned lower as a sharp rally in oil renewed worries about inflation and growth. The Dow led the losses while investors rotated out of cyclical industrial names. Mel Siew, portfolio manager (Asia public credit), Muzinich & Co discusses what he's looking out for in the upcoming February US jobs report for signs that hiring trends are shifting. At the same time China’s...

How does a former power-plant project manager and biotech entrepreneur end up building a six-figure luxury handbag house? In this episode of Mind Your Business, Abel Richard Bullock, Founder & Creative Director of Abel Richard joins the Breakfast Show to discuss the thinking behind merging precision engineering with Italian craftsmanship, why his bags take around 1,000 hours to make, and how a...

As tensions escalate across the Middle East following missile and drone strikes between Iran, the US and Israel, thousands of travellers have found themselves stranded as airspace closures disrupt flights across the region. Among them are Singaporeans who are now scrambling to find safe routes home, navigating airport shutdowns, uncertainty and rapidly changing security conditions. Judith Tan, jou...

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, Audrey puts the guys to the test with a fast-paced quiz on the state of women in business and society. From the global gender pay gap to female CEOs, political representation and who’s really doing most of the unpaid care work — the numbers may surprise you. Gentlemen, are you man enough to take the test?   Presented by Audrey Siek...