Let's Talk, Singapore

Recently blockchain platforms like OpenSea, and NFTs like Bored Ape Yacht Club are hot topics. With the amount of publicity surrounding these industries, it is no wonder the majority of startups are saturated within these sectors.  Sophie Jokelson, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Cove  shares some pros and cons of setting up in a mature market, and how mature markets can potentia...

According to Australian Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) data, in the two years to July 2020, Singaporean investors bought up $19.3 billion worth of Australian property. To put that in perspective, Singaporeans spent $6.1 billion more over that period than China, despite its economy being around 44 times smaller. Darien Bradshaw, Executive Director, One Global Australia  shares an overv...

In this morning's  The Breakfast Brief,  we discuss MAS's tightening of its monetary policy settings amid a further upward shift in Singapore's inflation outlook, the effects of a stronger Singapore Dollar on property markets, the release of the new 'Fight Club' ending in China, and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Singapore and Indonesia ties took a major step after the conclusion of agreements on 3 long standing bilateral issues. Meanwhile, Thailand and Saudi Arabia finally held their first high-level talks yesterday after 3 decades! To give us an analysis of these and more, Leslie Lopez, Regional Correspondent, Straits Times  joins us on the show.  See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China in this weekly podcast. The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliot Danker and Bharati Jagdish. Highlights (click/tap above): 00:32 China’s budding relationship with Russia 02:40 US President Joe Biden’s uncertainty on whether China tariffs will be lifted soon 04:16 US governm...

Vasu Menon, Executive Director, Investment Strategy, OCBC Bank, talks about how markets will be affected by Ukraine-Russia tensions, and the pre-emptive move by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to tighten policy ahead of the April meeting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Groundup. AI, the region’s first end-to-end sound-first AI-based predictive maintenance “operating system”, helps companies across manufacturing, construction, and maritime industries prevent unplanned downtime and reduce wastage.  Leon Lim, CEO & Founder, Groundup. AI  shares the difficulties industrial companies are facing in adopting AI-based predictive maintenan...

While SPACs have been fizzling out in the US, stock exchanges in Singapore and Hong Kong are betting the vehicles will boost their allure to global investors and startups in the region. Max Loh, EY Asean IPO Leader and Singapore and Brunei Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP  shares more about the accounting challenges of SPACs and how the introduction of SPAC will likely further bolster...

In this morning's ' The Breakfast Brief', we discuss the dramatic comeback overnight on Wall Street as stock swung back from deep losses, Indonesia's to reopening of Batam, Bintan to fully vaccinated Singapore travelers, the highest priced red packets ahead of Chinese New Year, and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From China’s budding relationship with Russia, US President Joe Biden’s uncertainty on whether China tariffs will be lifted soon and lastly, the US government suspending China-bound flights from the US, Tan Dawn Wei, China Bureau Chief, The Straits Times  gives an analysis of it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Song Seng Wun, Economist, CIMB Private Banking discusses how the Bak Kwa Index helps to paint the outlook for Singapore's economy, and how the rising prices partly reflect the inflationary pressures  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in the United States in this weekly podcast.  The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliot Danker and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: Highlights (click/tap above): 00:38 From pandemic to endemic? A decline of Omicron cases in the US 02:53 The US resisting World Health Organisation's p...

The current climate has brought e-commerce to the fore, with 70 percent of the population in Southeast Asia going online, resulting in mounting pressure on logistics companies to expand their operations.  Syed Ali Ridha Madihid, Co-Founder, Luwjistik  shares what supply chain challenges businesses have faced over the last few years and the technological trends that are changing cross-bor...

According to a report by WARC, new advertising spend forecasts for 100 markets worldwide show that the global ad market has largely weathered the impact of Covid-19. Ad trade is on course to reach a value of US$1trn in 2025 with more than half of this money paid to just three companies, Alphabet, Meta and Amazon. Ashik Ashokan, APAC Advisory Lead, WARC  shares some of the factors that led to...

Nirmal Ghosh, US Bureau Chief, Straits Times  gives an analysis of the decline in Covid-19 Omicron cases, why the US is resisting plans to strengthen the World Health Organization's, and highlights from a virtual meeting between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last Friday, and more.    Follow The Straits Times' Asian Insider Podcast channel - co-produced with Mo...

In this morning's  The Breakfast Brief,  we discuss the upcoming Federal Reserve's meeting mid-week, how tech has been reacting to the rising interest rates so far, major earnings report expected this week, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Dugan, CEO, The Global CIO Office, discusses if the sell off is gaining momentum and a deeper correction is in store. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in Hong Kong. The Straits Times' Hong Kong correspondent Claire Huang speaks with Money FM's Rachel Kelly on the following points: Highlights (click/tap above): 00:40 HK Schools to be shut from Jan 24 due to rising Covid-19 infections in several schools 01:47 Pet lovers outraged at government's decision on culling of hamsters...

Food delivery apps offer convenience for customers, but a host of headaches for restaurants, like commissions as high as 40 percent and very few tools to build customer loyalty. And not just that such delivery apps do not share customer data so restaurants will not know who their customers are while margins are under pressure. Mathieu Sneep, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Tablevibe shar...

As part of the Singapore Green Plan, our nation hopes to build up our agri-food industry’s capability and capacity to produce 30 percent of our nutritional needs locally and reduce our reliance on exports by 2030.  Sven Yeo, Co-founder, Archisen shares with us on how his agri-tech company is helping achieve those goals and why should Singaporeans choose and buy local produce over overse...

The OCBC phishing scam made headlines this week. The aftermath, according to the police, at least 469 victims lost a total of S$8.5 million. OCBC has since announced their decision to give "goodwill payouts" to customers hit by an SMS phishing scam. Jansen Aw, Partner, Disputes & Specialist Practice and Head of Technology and Data Protection Team, Donaldson & Burkinshaw  shares h...

In this morning's  The Breakfast Brief,  we discuss the tech-heavy benchmark wiping out a gain that reached nearly to 2% to post a 1.3% drop, Russia’s central bank proposed banning the use and mining of cryptocurrencies on Russian territory and how companies on IMDA's SMS registry can still be spoofed.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: On the third Friday of every month, The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia.  Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they chat about the following: Highlights (click/tap above): 01:00 A recap on the trade agreement between US and China 03:21 China...

Winston Lum, senior portfolio manager, Asian equity, Nikko Asset Management discusses how the structure behind the NikkoAM-StraitsTrading MSCI China Electric Vehicles And Future Mobility ETF makes it an attractive opportunity for investors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Inmarsat’s latest survey, APAC passengers view some everyday experiences as riskier than air travel. A significant 32 percent of APAC passengers are less confident getting on the bus or coach than taking a flight, while 32 percent of passengers felt the metro or underground was riskier than flying. David Coiley, Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, Inmarsat Aviation&nb...