Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

As the Singapore dollar strengthens, its impact is beginning to extend beyond traditional markets and into the fast-evolving world of digital finance. How will a stronger SGD influence the rise of regulated stablecoins and what does that mean for investors, institutions and cross-border payments? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Anthony Koo, Head of Payments at StraitsX , to break down...

Singapore shares inched higher today despite early losses seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.3% at 4,902.27 points at 10.36am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$569.09M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel, after the group and Simba Telecom have mutually agreed to extend the long-stop date for the proposed M1 deal to May 21.  Else...

Back scoring, back smiling and back on Sports Minutes. Ikhsan Fandi sits down to talk form, confidence, and hitting 50 goals for BG Pathum. With the Lions building momentum and a clash against Bangladesh looming, Ikhsan opens up on competition for the No.9 role, staying grounded through faith, and why this might just be his prime. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudi...

Singapore shares inched higher today even as Asian markets traded mostly lower. The Straits Times Index rose 0.35% at 4,921.88 points at 12.01pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$737.19M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust. That’s as the trust invested 50 million euros (S$74.1 million) in AiOnX, its sponsor SWI Group&rsquo...

Singapore shares inched higher today to track regional movements The Straits Times Index was up 0.57% at 4,890.15 points at 2.29pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.15B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Airlines. SIA said yesterday that the flag carrier will fly to Sydney’s new 24-hour airport. The new airport allows SIA to offer red-eye...

Back from a long injury layoff, Irfan Fandi returns to the Singapore national team with unfinished business. He opens up about the grind of recovery, the heartbreak of missing Lion’s historic night, and the motivation driving his comeback - with a 50-cap milestone now firmly in sight. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s public housing has long been the backbone of the country’s dream of homeownership, offering affordable homes to generations of residents. But as land grows increasingly scarce and the appetite for central city living surges, HDB is exploring bold new directions. Enter projects like the proposed Pearl’s Hill development, a vision of supertall, high-density ‘megat...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada explore where people are finding happiness in today’s fast-paced world from unplugging in nature to global rankings of well-being. They first look at the growing trend of “forest bathing,” where people are turning to nature as a way to escape the stress of constant news cycles. Then, they dive into the 2026 World Happin...

With markets more volatile, interest rates staying higher for longer, and global tensions adding uncertainty, the traditional playbook may no longer be enough. More investors are now looking beyond stocks and bonds… and turning to alternative assets to future-proof their portfolios. But what’s really driving this shift, and are alternatives the answer, or just the next big trend? On W...

Singapore shares traded in the positive territory today, in line with movements seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.51% at 4,865.95 points at 2.27pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.10B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Singtel, after the local telco last afternoon was hit with more than 9,700 user reports of a disruption on Downdetect...

Climate change is no longer a distant threat, it’s unfolding in real time. Sea levels are creeping higher, heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent, and global supply chains are increasingly strained by extreme weather. At the same time, the world’s attention is pulled in other directions, from geopolitical tensions to ongoing energy crises. So where does that leave Singapore,...

In just a few months, investors have had to navigate geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, trade uncertainty in the US, and disruptions to global energy supply. And yet, despite all that, global equities actually hit record highs as recently as late February. So are markets brushing off the risks, or are investors simply focusing on the bigger economic picture? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong...

How far is too far when it comes to bosses keeping tabs on employees? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the increasingly invasive world of workplace surveillance, from sensors tracking posture and heart rate to timed toilet breaks.  Then, we hit the road with Will. I.Am’s latest brainchild: Trinity, a city-friendly, AI-powered electric vehicle that doesn&r...

Singapore shares dived today to track hefty losses across regional markets. The Straits Times Index was down 2.38% at 4,831.30 points at 2.44pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.76B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Lendlease Global Commercial Reit, after the Reit’s preferential offering of 352.4 million units was only 62.2 per cent subscribed.&nbs...

Singapore imports more than 90% of its food, yet less than 1% comes from the Middle East. Despite this, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has warned that ongoing conflicts could still drive up food prices through disruptions to global shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Higher fuel and fertilizer costs may increase production and transport expenses, affecting farmers,...

Conflict in the Middle East is rocking global energy markets. Oil prices are spiking, shipping routes are under threat, and supply chains are stretched to the limit. But what does this mean for your investments, and the future of renewable energy?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to James Koh, Partner, Energy & Natural Resources, Oliver Wyman, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into the world of K-pop from fan reactions that spiralled into real-world disruption, to the massive economic power of global superstars. They unpack the fallout from Heeseung’s departure from Enhypen, which escalated from petitions and protest trucks to overwhelming South Korea’s national pension fund lines. Then, they...

Singapore shares fell today as investors continue to mull the impact of the Middle East war on global growth. The Straits Times Index was down 0.55% at 4,940.11 points at 2.18pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.04B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Hongkong Land and Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust, after the property developer acquired a 10.8 per ce...

Jordan Webb, remember him? He arrived as a fleet-footed winger from Canada in 2010, and spent close to a decade making a mark in the Singapore Premier League - most notably for Tampines Rovers. 6 years since departing in fairly abrupt circumstances, he sits down with Sports Minutes to tell us how close he came to representing his "second home", his regrets on never achieving that goal and how a fa...

Over the past year, the spotlight has been firmly on students and their use of AI, questions around academic integrity, strict guidelines, and even penalties for those who don’t disclose it. But now, the conversation is shifting. Several universities here in Singapore, including Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore Institute of Technology...

It’s not just global investors driving the surge in gold, but buyers right here in Singapore. From bullion dealers to pawnshops, demand for gold bars, coins, and even jewellery has spiked sharply in recent months, fuelled by rising tensions in the Middle East, volatile markets, and growing expectations of interest rate cuts. At the same time, prices have been anything but stable, swinging be...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Zia-ul Raushan talk about world leaders with unexpected talents including Thailand’s King and Queen, who made headlines for flying their own plane on a state visit. Plus, a Singaporean family learns a costly lesson at the airport after a toy gun in their child’s carry-on led to a missed flight and S$3,000 in new tickets. See omnystudio.com/li...

Singapore shares dipped today as investors continued to mull the Federal Reserve’s move to hold interest rates overnight. The Straits Times Index was down 0.44% at 4,980.01 points at 12.06pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.38B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Manulife US Real Estate Investment Trust, after its distributable income for the second...

Iran has confirmed that its top security chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, alongside his son and senior aides, a major setback for Tehran’s leadership since the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in the conflict. In response to his death, Iran has launched missile strikes on Israel, while targets in Lebanon have also been hit, raising concerns of...

Oil prices are surging, the US dollar is holding firm, and Asian currencies are under pressure. Could the Korean won and Indian rupee slide further? And why might the Chinese yuan and Singapore dollar weather the storm better? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Christopher Wong, FX strategist, OCBC, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.