Live Well with Michelle

A 140-year-old healthcare giant shows it can still grow, as Johnson & Johnson beats earnings expectations and doubles down on its ambition to lead the global fight against cancer. On geopolitics, markets rebound after U.S. President Donald Trump walks back tariff threats tied to Greenland, reframing the issue around mineral rights and strategic access instead. We unpack whether this is real po...

Is leaving your CPF alone the safest option in 2026 or are there smarter moves for more than 2.5%  interest? As Singapore’s retirement rules shift, what do you need to know about the moves that you can make for greater savings and smaller tax bills. With new dollar-for-dollar government matching schemes, the roadmap to retirement offers new possibilities regardless of paycheck size. We...

A nation’s birth story, revisited through freshly released interviews. A major new book and permanent exhibition at the National Library reopens the story of Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965. The Albatross File: Inside Separation  draws on newly declassified Cabinet papers, handwritten notes by Dr Goh Keng Swee, and oral history accounts to examine what was long seen a...

From Netflix’s earnings pop to a bond-market shock out of Tokyo - markets are suddenly on edge. Netflix posts a near-30% jump in quarterly profits, but shares slide as investors digest higher content spending and a massive all-cash bid for Warner Bros., aimed at outflanking Paramount. We zoom out to Wall Street’s sharp sell-off as geopolitical tensions flare and volatility spikes. Then...

The market looks strong - but only a handful of stocks are doing the lifting. As 2026 begins, investors are grappling with a big question: can mega-cap dominance last, or is leadership finally starting to broaden? With just 10% of the S&P 500 driving gains, valuation gaps are widening even as market breadth quietly improves. We explore whether easing rates, broader earnings, and capital rotati...

Asia’s markets are flashing mixed signals - so how is a smart investor to think through where to really place money? Michelle Martin unpacks Morningstar’s Q1 2026 Asia Investment Outlook with Lorraine Tan, cutting through the noise on growth, rates and risk. From AI-driven earnings to valuation support - what’s real, what’s hype, and where the cracks could form. We zoom in...

Markets are wobbling as geopolitics heats up - and investors are heading for cover. Asia-Pacific stocks slide as US–Europe tensions flare over Greenland and fresh tariff threats. European equities retreat while safe havens shine, with gold and silver near record highs. A Hong Kong billionaire’s call to put 20% into gold raises eyebrows - is this a regime shift? Back home, Frasers Centr...

Asia’s tech story may be entering a very different growth phase - and it’s not all about AI. Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang unpack Macquarie’s bullish call on Asia internet stocks driven by gaming, music, super-apps and cultural exports. From K-pop giant HYBE to platforms like Tencent, Baidu and Kakao, the focus shifts to monetising ecosystems people already live on. The duo also...

Our company in focus list, zeroes in on companies we here know about in Singapore. In 2026, it’s no longer about whether markets rise - it’s about which companies truly deliver. Money and Me looks past daily noise to uncover businesses entering pivotal turning points across sectors.. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Vance Tan, Financial Services Manager, PhillipCapital,...

The discussion looks at chips surging and banks cashing in. Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors weigh TSMC’s blockbuster earnings against fresh US-Taiwan trade developments. We unpack what Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s profit jump says about the durability of the AI trade and global chip supply chains. Wall Street steadies as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley de...

Singapore REITs may finally be turning the corner. Singapore REITs enter 2026 at a pivotal moment say's Kenny Loh, as interest-rate cuts revive sentiment and valuations remain below historical averages. After delivering a near-23% gain in 2025 - their best run since 2019 - analysts expect a two-year earnings upgrade cycle driven by falling borrowing costs and rising distributions. We unpack which...

US bank earnings take centrestage as Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo   open their books, revealing a split between headline beats and sharp market reactions. Citigroup posts stronger-than-expected earnings despite a costly exit, while Bank of America delivers hefty profits - yet both stocks slide. Wells Fargo disappoints, with severance costs dragging results and shares taking the...

When rates diverge, the real risk isn’t missing the bottom - it’s what you do once you’re there. Singapore’s interest rates are nearing a projected floor, while the UK remains stubbornly higher - setting up a rare refinancing crossroads for homeowners. Michelle Martin speaks with Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties, about whether this is the moment to lock in cas...

Big earnings, so why did Wall  Street sell? Earnings season kicks off with surprises as JPMorgan Chase posts higher revenue but lower profits - and investors head for the exits. Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang unpack why a one-time Apple card charge and booming trading desks still weren’t enough to calm markets. Delta Air Lines delivers soaring profits powered by premium travel - yet its...

A digital bank, a S$1.3 billion war chest - and a big question: can a newcomer really change how Singaporeans save, invest and bank. Michelle speaks with Natalia Goh, CEO of MariBank, on how a digital-first model is reshaping everyday finance. Backed by Sea Limited and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, MariBank has rapidly grown its investment offerings to o...

A surge in insider buying puts diesel engines, cocoa and construction firmly in focus. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we track director deals at XMH Holdings, JB Foods and Reclaims Global - and what those trades signal for small-caps. Institutional action heats up as United Overseas Bank tops buy-backs while US markets notch fresh highs. Earnings season looms with big banks and airline...

As 2026 begins, Money and Me takes a moment of introspection - looking not just at how much you made, but how you spent. What did money add to your life in 2025 - and what quietly drained your peace, health, or joy? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend, who introduces a powerful reframing: Return on Spending, not just Return on Investing. From a $10,00...

Defense stocks swing sharply as US President Donald Trump pivots from threatening dividends to floating a staggering US$1.5 trillion military budget. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode unpacks why names like Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies and AeroVironment surged - and what it says about policy-driven markets. We also look to Europe, where defense stocks extend a four-day rally as geo...

As the China growth narrative fades, attention is shifting from the New Economy to an overlooked source of income: high-dividend state-owned enterprises. Raymond Cheng explains why China’s energy and infrastructure giants have delivered strong returns even as oil prices fell. We explore how Beijing’s policy reset has effectively programmed  state firms to return more cash to share...

Samsung’s blockbuster profits put South Korea’s market back in the global spotlight, as investors ask whether the AI-driven rally still has legs. We play UP  or  DOWN   on defence contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman after President Donald Trump targets dividends and buybacks. Alphabet overtakes Apple in market value for the first tim...

When prices barely move after big news, that’s often the loudest signal of all. Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chip debut at CES promises cheaper, faster, lower-power AI - yet the stock barely flinched, raising questions for both traders and long-term investors. Michelle Martin unpacks what muted price action really means when expectations are crowded and positioning is full. Geopolitical shock f...

A single chip may have just changed the economics of artificial intelligence. From CES in Las Vegas, Nvidia unveils its Vera Rubin AI chip - promising faster computing at a fraction of today’s power and cost. Michelle Martin breaks down what cheaper AI means for data centres, electricity demand and capital budgets. The ripple effects spread across global chipmakers as memory shortages drive...

He was told borrowing could boost his retirement - instead it wiped out his peace of mind. A real-life Singapore case shows how a retiree lost a large portion of his savings after taking loans to buy complex insurance-linked investments. In this episode, we unpack why borrowing to invest is especially dangerous once your paycheque stops. We break down the red flags hidden in structured products, l...

Oil shocks, AI momentum, and record markets - but the real story is who’s positioned to win when geopolitics meets capital. Wall Street rallies as energy stocks surge after US action in Venezuela, putting companies with deep roots - like Chevron - back in the spotlight. We unpack why Halliburton’s Singapore-linked legacy and Chevron’s decades-long patience may now pay off in one...

The biggest threat to your money in 2025 wasn’t what everyone was shouting about, it was your reaction to them. As markets whipsawed through tech shocks, AI scares, and policy pivots, many investors hurt themselves trying to react. This episode reveals the  real  wealth destroyer hiding beneath the headlines. We unpack volatility, false market narratives and why first impressions o...