Live Well with Michelle

We start with a blockbuster IPO. Pinkfong’s Baby Shark empire makes waves with it's debut, stirring questions about Korea’s content boom. U.S. markets wobble as Nvidia, Tesla, and crypto-linked stocks drag investor sentiment lower. Michelle Martin runs a rapid “Up or Down” lightning round across tech, aviation, regional plays, and Singapore blue chips. Then a check in on lo...

The global automotive industry is undergoing its greatest transformation in a century - electrification, digital ownership and self-driving technology. In this episode, we explore how Borneo Motors Singapore - a brand that has grown with the nation since 1925 - is reinventing itself for a new era. Magdalene Tan, Marketing Director of Borneo Motors Singapore, joins Michelle Martin to unpack strateg...

Industrial REITs are steady, yields are juicy, and rates are falling - so is now the moment to move? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode breaks down why industrial S-REITs have held firm with strong occupancy and rental reversions. We explore how the wider S-REIT universe has staged a 2025 rebound on easing debt costs and a friendlier rate outlook. With T-bills slipping near 1.37 - 1.4%, Kenny...

The Oracle of Omaha makes a surprise tech bet - what does Warren Buffett know that the rest of the market doesn’t? Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, we break down the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio twist. What earnings in the week ahead are being watched closely? We dive into a mixed week for US indices and the shifting narratives driving investor positioning. Luxury markets heat up a...

SoftBank just dumped Nvidia in the midst of this AI frenzy - is this a warning signal, or the smartest money move of the year? As rare-earth stocks roar and governments scramble for critical minerals, we ask whether a new multi-decade commodities supercycle is forming - or whether geopolitics is simply inflating another hype cycle. Michael Burry is also sounding alarms, accusing hyperscalers like...

Swiss sneaker-maker On , chip giant  AMD ,  Cisco Systems , and local names like  ComfortDelGro ,  ST Engineering ,  AEM ,  Food Empire ,  JB Foods , and  Seatrium take centrestage, as markets react to blockbuster guidance upgrades and renewed AI optimism. We break down what’s driving the surge in On’s sales, the key soundbites from AMD’s L...

Inclusion is under siege. As companies scale back DEI amid political backlash, can Asia offer a new lens for belonging - one rooted in empathy and  economics? Lyn R. Lee, former Global Chief DEI Officer at Shell and author of  Tiny Rice Grains  (Penguin Random House SEA), joins Michelle Martin to explore the future of diversity in a politically divided world. She discusses how small...

A fierce debate has erupted over investment-linked insurance plans. Are ILPs misunderstood tools for long-term wealth, or overly complex, high-cost products investors should avoid? Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend, returns to address his criticisms of his arguments following his Business Times column, which challenged the value of ILPs. He breaks down industry rebuttals on compounding bonuses, ad...

Profits are up, but not everyone’s cheering. Sea Limited doubles earnings while Singtel posts a massive jump - yet investors aren’t entirely convinced. SoftBank cashes out of Nvidia to fund its AI future. Which of these moves spells confidence - and which signals caution? From Sea’s Shopee, Garena, and Monee to Singtel’s Optus and NCS, we unpack the region’s big earni...

A race against time - and one that could save you real money. As the year ends, many Singaporeans hurry to make their S$15,300 SRS contribution to cut their tax bill - but how does the scheme work  We unpack withdrawal rules, explain whether you’ll eventually pay tax, and why 1 in 5 SRS dollars sits idle earning just 0.05% interest Should you invest your SRS instead, and how do rising s...

Markets are moving. US lawmakers strike a compromise to end the shutdown, sending the S&P 500 and Nasdaq sharply higher, with Nvidia, Palantir among the day’s top gainers. We unpack Warren Buffett’s plan to step down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO, go quiet, and accelerate philanthropy - and what it means for Berkshire Hathaway investors. Our UP or DOWN game spotlights TSMC, Restaurant...

A toy titan stumbles - is the Labubu craze losing its bite? Pop Mart gets smashed by a livestream backlash while collector demand cools. Carl Icahn revs engines with a big bet on Monro’s struggling auto-service business. Wall Street slips despite solid earnings; investors weigh labour softness & shutdown risks. UP or DOWN: Ikea, Pfizer, Sri Trang, Boustead. Local highlights, STI movers -...

Has Singapore quietly become one of the world’s hottest IPO destinations? The city-state has rocketed into the global top 10, overtaking London as real-estate listings power its rise. Globally, IPOs are rebounding as 2025 sees stronger deal flow and an 89% surge in proceeds amid calmer markets. EY’s Chan Yew Kiang walks us through what’s driving the US, Greater China, and Southea...

What if cities could remember — and literature was the witness? The George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) returns for its 15th edition, exploring  “ Urban Myths and Memories” in Penang. This bold, internationally recognised festival champions free expression, world literature, and provocative conversations at the cultural edge. With 37 writers from 13 countries ,  GTLF g...

What does one of the busiest malls in China have no shoppers, yet billions in sales? China’s growth may be slowing, but its transformation is accelerating. Join Michelle Martin as she chats with Willie Keng, Founder of Dividend Titan, who toured Shanghai and Hangzhou with institutional investors. Discover how live-streaming has become China’s most powerful consumption engine, why local...

From Singapore’s banking results to Elon Musk’s trillion-dollar payday - markets are buzzing with big money moves. Singapore’s three big banks - DBS, OCBC, and UOB - are showing their hand this earnings season, revealing who’s playing defense and who’s cashing in. Michelle Martin breaks down the numbers behind OCBC’s steady profits and DBS’s record highs,...

The private-credit boom promises high returns and flexibility - but is the shine justified? Private credit is booming - but beneath its reputation for stability and diversification lies a more complicated story. In this episode, hosted by Michelle Martin, Morningstar’s Senior Analyst Arvind Subramanian breaks down what private credit really is, why borrowers and investors are piling in, and...

Big earnings shocks and tariff twists keep markets on edge. DBS and UOB headline today as Q3 earnings diverge, with UOB hit by a 72% plunge while DBS holds up better than expected. In the U.S., tariff-linked stocks like Lululemon, Macy’s, and Mattel rallied as the Supreme Court heard challenges to Trump-era import duties. We also play Up/Down with McDonald’s, Pinterest, Snap, Apple, Go...

Singapore’s inheritance expectations are rising - and so are the stakes.   Over half of Singaporeans say they expect to receive or have already received an inheritance, with one in five anticipating a million-dollar windfall. Michelle Martin unpacks Etiqa Insurance’s new Wealth Transfer Insights Report with Jess Tan, Chief Distribution Officer, Etiqa Insurance Singapore. They expl...

Big brands, bold bets, and billion-dollar questions. Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang unpack Yum Brands’ plan to potentially sell Pizza Hut after a strong quarter led by Taco Bell and KFC. Plus, a check-in on Aramco, Pfizer, Spotify, and SIA Engineering’s earnings - who’s up, who’s down? Then, a look at Singapore’s new $1 billion wellness attraction, the Khoon Group san...

As interest rates tumble to three-year lows, Singapore’s homeowners are racing to refinance their HDB loans. Could now be the smartest time to switch from HDB’s 2.6% rate to a bank loan? Or are there hidden risks that could derail your savings goals? From lock-in penalties to cash rebates and the one-way nature of HDB refinancing, learn what every borrower needs to check before signing...

The AI wave just got louder - Palantir posts a sixfold profit surge while Grab edges closer to sustainable profitability. Investors are also buzzing over Amazon’s mega cloud deal with OpenAI and Nvidia, and whispers of a CapitaLand–Mapletree merger shake up Singapore’s market scene. From global tech breakouts to local REIT speculation, Michelle unpacks the trends that could shape...

Earnings are soaring, rates are falling, and investors can’t decide whether to celebrate or brace for impact. Join Michelle Martin and trading expert Simon Ree, Founder of Tao of Trading, as they unpack a blockbuster week for markets - from Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta’s AI-driven profits to the Fed’s latest rate cut and the U.S. - China trade truce. Can trillion-...

Big Oil meets Big Tech - as ExxonMobil and Chevron beat Wall Street expectations while pivoting toward powering AI’s next frontier. Join the market ride from ExxonMobil and Chevron’s earnings to the AI-fueled spending surge at Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon. Michelle and Ryan unpack whether an AI bubble could be forming, what’s fueling U.S. markets, and what to watch this...

What happens when the private equity boom meets a world of higher rates and lower liquidity? INSEAD Professor Claudia Zeisberger returns with a rewritten edition of Mastering Private Equity  for a new financial era. Discover how investors are shifting from growth to stability, embracing private debt, and navigating the surge in secondaries and continuation funds. Hear how democratising the on...