Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

The ongoing Middle East conflict is sending shockwaves through global energy markets, and Singapore is feeling the heat. Fuel prices are climbing, food costs are rising, and businesses are bracing for ripple effects. On The Big Story, Debbie Yong speaks with Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University , about Singapore’s response. We unpack the newly formed Home...

Earnings are still holding up, but the era of broad beats and easy momentum may be fading. Mega-cap tech is still leading, but the gap is narrowing, AI spending is surging but becoming more uneven, and investors are getting far more selective about what they reward. So are we at an inflection point, from momentum-driven gains to a market that cares more about valuations, quality, and fundamentals?...

What would you do if you spotted a strange, electric-blue creature on a beach in Singapore and had no idea if it was harmless… or venomous? That moment of curiosity (and mild panic) is exactly what inspired a new project people are calling a 'Singapore Pokedex', a fast, visual wildlife guide designed to help everyday people identify real animals in real time.  On What's Trending,...

Singapore shares inched higher today as investors continue to monitor developments on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was up 0.46% at 4,970.16 points at 1.24pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$727.68M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Olam Group after the agri-food giant said today that it is selling its information technology and digital...

On Apr 2, US President Donald Trump delivered his first prime-time address since the US-Israeli war in Iran erupted on Feb 28, claiming major military victories against Iran’s navy, air force, and missile capabilities. Yet he offered no clear timeline for ending the conflict. With Trump’s approval rating at a low 36% and Iran’s enriched uranium still largely intact, questions lin...

The “Sell America” narrative has resurfaced amid rising geopolitical tensions and a more assertive US policy stance, but markets suggest a more nuanced reality. US equities remain supported, Treasuries continue to attract demand, and foreign investors are still allocating into US assets. Instead, the adjustment appears to be happening through the US dollar, while gold is gaining promin...

What do laser-filled highways and your cringey teenage email have in common? They’re both trying to fix problems we didn’t think had solutions. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh head to China where drivers are being kept awake by full-on laser light shows on highways. Is it genius… or just dangerously distracting? Then, we switch gears to something way m...

Singapore shares slid today as investors continue to mull US President Donald Trump’s address on the war in the Middle East. The Straits Times Index fell 0.76% to 4,937.86 points at 2.41pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.09B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have ST Engineering, after it announced yesterday that its marine business has secured a six-y...

After years of seemingly unstoppable growth, Singapore’s housing market is showing its first signs of change. HDB resale prices have dipped 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026, the first quarterly decline in almost seven years. Meanwhile, resale transactions have also eased slightly, down 4.5% from last year. What does this mean for homeowners and buyers? Could this be the start of a more bala...

Gold and silver are doing something that markets don’t usually expect in a moment like this; they’re falling, not rising, even as geopolitical tensions from the Iran conflict keep energy prices high and uncertainty elevated. So what’s really going on? Is this the end of the traditional safe-haven trade, or just a temporary distortion driven by stronger yields, a firmer US dollar,...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the most viral stories circulating online.  First, a five-year-old opens her green packet on Hari Raya… only to find no money inside the envelope, just a note that says ‘Better Luck Next Time’. Is this a heartless prank, life lesson, or just plain awkward? Then, they pivot to something a little greener, litera...

Stocks staged a powerful rebound overnight as fresh geopolitical optimism lifted global sentiment. In the US, markets surged on reports suggesting a de-escalation in the Iran conflict, with investors hopeful that an end to hostilities could be within reach. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1,125 points, or 2.5%, to close at 46,341. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 climbed 2.9% to 6,528, and the N...

Finance, football and fireworks - the Lion's homecoming match in celebration of securing qualification to the 2027 Asian Cup had it all. From 3 points to seal an unbeaten group stage campaign, to 30,000 fans in attendance...Plus a landmark $50 million boost to Singapore’s football ecosystem from Forrest Li’s Sea Limited. Sports Minutes has the details! Sports Minutes with Deepanraj Gan...

Healthcare in Singapore is getting more expensive, and fast. The latest WTW Global Medical Trends Report predicts medical costs could jump 16.9% in 2026, up from 15.5% last year and just over 12% in 2024, putting Singapore at the top of the Asia-Pacific chart. At the same time, new insurance rules coming into effect this April mean patients may have to pay more out of pocket before coverage kicks...

Nearly half of Bitcoin’s supply is now underwater, long-term holders are selling at multi-year losses, and market stress indicators are flashing red. Yet prices remain relatively stable, creating a growing disconnect between sentiment and price action. With investors increasingly hedging for downside risk and some calling for a move back to US$50,000, the question is whether this is a warnin...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into the rising trend of pet luxury, as a woman in Shanghai spends around S$2,200 a month to send her dog to “kindergarten” with complete with training, social activities and even a school bus. Then, they unpack a bizarre heist in Europe involving over 413,000 stolen KitKat bars, exploring how such a massive shipment cou...

Global sentiment saw some improvement as US futures turned positive, following reassuring comments from Donald Trump and Jerome Powell. Volatility remains a key theme, with the CBOE Volatility Index climbing above 30 and rising sharply this month. The move signals elevated fear and rapid risk repricing, raising questions on whether this spike is temporary or the start of more sustained market stre...

Donald Trump is pushing a controversial idea which is taking control of Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s most critical oil export hub, as tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran continue to escalate. In the midst of this, Pakistan has stepped forward, offering to host “meaningful talks” between Washington and Tehran, a diplomatic opening that comes even as the threat of...

Bank of America’s move into art consulting signals a broader shift toward treating art as a financeable, allocatable asset within wealth portfolios. With banks like JPMorgan, UBS, and Citi scaling similar capabilities, art is becoming more embedded in discussions around liquidity, risk, and returns. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Grace Lau, Founder and CEO of ArtWise , to b...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into how a US man in Japan used AI to solve a late-night hotel aircon problem, before unpacking the viral “office air theory” that claims your workplace can leave you looking tired and drained within hours.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore shares inched higher today amid a bruising day for Asian equities. The Straits Times Index nudged 0.14% higher at 4,905.20 points at 2.31pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.22B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have DBS, given how the group has entered India’s buoyant equity capital market, marking a push into one of the world’s busiest...

After seeing his football career curtailed by injury, Shannon Stephen found himself searching for purpose. On Sports Minutes, he opens up about rediscovering that identity through Hyrox, and how the finish line has become his new final whistle. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re going to revisit a guest whose mission is to increase the GDP of not a country, but the internet.  If it rings a bell, yes, we are indeed talking about Stripe, the payments processing company whose aim is to build the economic infrastructure for the internet.  For starters, the San Francisco and Dublin headquartered firm assists customers from the world’s largest...

Airfares are rising across Asia as jet fuel prices surge amid the Middle East conflict, putting pressure on airlines already operating on thin margins. And with costs climbing and supply disruptions hitting the region harder, carriers are being forced to balance fare hikes, cost absorption, and potential flight cuts. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada first dive into the surprising sale of Abiqua Falls, a 92-foot waterfall in Oregon that was listed online with no fixed price, sparking concern that the beloved natural site could be closed off. Then, they unpack actress Brenda Song’s viral airline experience, after she claimed her family’s pre-booked first-class seats were r...