Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

On Feb 8, Japan will hold a snap election that could reshape the country’s political landscape. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seeking to strengthen her coalition’s hold on power, while a newly reorganized opposition aims to make gains.  So, what’s really at stake in this election? And what could the results mean for the future of Japan’s domestic politics, its econo...

Aside from Dubai chocolate, what is Korea’s newest global craze now? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into the surprising rise of Korean gim, the humble dried seaweed snack that’s suddenly become a worldwide obsession. Once an affordable staple in Korean households, gim is now flying off supermarket shelves overseas, pushing prices up so quickly that ev...

Singapore shares fell today as investors continue to mull a selloff in US tech stocks overnight. The Straits Times Index dropped 0.7 per cent in the first 30 minutes of trading, with most counters opening in the red.  In terms of counters to watch, we have Nio, after the electric vehicle maker projects to record its first-ever quarterly adjusted operating profit for the quarter ended Dec 31.&...

Lion City Sailors have announced the departure of Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković with immediate effect. Despite 8 wins in 8 league matches, the defending SPL Champions have suffered exits in both continental competitions - which led to increased scrutiny on the head coach. Having taken over the reigns in June 2023, Ranko departs having delivered five major trophies and a fairytale run to the ACL T...

At 30, Amirul Adli chose change. Speaking to Sports Minutes, he explains why he left BG Tampines despite their strong season, how he’s adapting to life in Malaysia, and what pushed him to take this leap. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia’s investment landscape is evolving and private credit is at the heart of the change. But how is private credit moving from niche portfolios to a central role in investment strategies? What are the opportunities, risks and potential ripple effects of private credit on Asia’s real economy? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Charis Liau, Chief Investment Officer at IFS Asse...

Singapore faces a growing challenge in cancer screening, with participation rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers remaining worryingly low. At the same time, cancer diagnoses among younger adults are on the rise, highlighting an urgent need to rethink early detection strategies. And efforts like the launch of RISE (Research Institute for Cancer Prevention, Screening and Early Detectio...

Is cheap petrol across the Causeway really worth the trip or are Singapore drivers risking more than they realise? On this episode of What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Zia-ul Raushan break down the real costs behind JB fuel runs, from toll charges to fines, and why some drivers are still tempted despite the risks. Then, things get competitive: Sports Minutes host Ziaul Raushan is put on the...

Singapore shares dipped today, in line with regional movements.  The Straits Times Index was down 0.24% at 4,953.78 points at 11.54am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$858.58M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel, after the asset manager’s net profit rose 27.2 per cent to S$645.4 million for the second half ended December, from S$507.5 milli...

Polytechnic diplomas have been a cornerstone of Singapore’s workforce since 1954, supplying skilled talent across industries from engineering and biomedical science to aviation and media. Yet, despite their proven value, diploma holders often face a persistent perception problem: they are seen as ‘good enough to start’, but not always equipped to lead or progress. Is it finally t...

M&A in 2026 is being shaped by a volatile, uncertain, and complex world. AI is transforming deal-making, Japan and India are seeing strong activity, and China and Hong Kong are shaking up cross-border deals. What does this mean for investors? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Raghu Narain, Head of Investment Banking, APAC at Natixis CIB , for the latest. See omnystudio.com/liste...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh look at Chinese kids tackling homework the size of billboards, literally A0 sheets that have parents and kids scrambling across the floor like urban planners. Is this a creative way to learn… or just extra pressure in disguise? Then, we jet over to Davos, where French President Emmanuel Macron’s steel-blue aviators stole the show....

Singapore shares inched higher in early trade today. The Straits Times Index was up 0.16% at 4,952.07 points at 10.06am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$418.73M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Singtel, given how KKR and Singtel will acquire Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres for S$6.6 billion, in one of the largest data-centre tr...

He’s back on the pitch, back getting wins and back enjoying football. Zulqarnaen Suzliman joins Sports Minutes to talk about his Albirex loan switch, the confidence that comes with game time and why he chose to leave the Lion City Sailors. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s tourism sector has bounced back strongly in 2025, with tourism receipts hitting a record S$23.9 billion in the first three quarters—a year-on-year growth of over 6%. International visitor arrivals reached around 16.9 million, slightly below earlier forecasts, according to the Singapore Tourism Board. What’s fueling this robust performance? Is it a short-term rebound,...

Investing has never been more accessible. Across Asia, digital platforms and zero-commission trading have put the markets in the hands of millions of DIY investors. But greater access doesn’t always translate into better returns. Studies show that many DIY investors underperform the benchmarks, even with a wealth of tools and information at their fingertips. So what’s really behind the...

On today’s episode of What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada explore the bizarre new social platform Moltbook, where 1.4 million AI agents post, debate, and even comfort each other without a single human in sight. They unpack what it means to watch digital minds interact, the eerie hive-mind-like behavior of these bots, and why humans might be quietly losing skills as AI t...

Singapore shares rose today as Asian markets rebounded from the previous day’s losses. The Straits Times Index was up 1.04% at 4,943.04 points at 2.30pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.06B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have the Singapore Exchange given how the bourse operator and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) are working on paving the...

On April 1, Singapore will officially launch its National Space Agency, setting its sights on growing the space sector, managing satellites, and boosting space monitoring capabilities. Since 2022, the government has poured over $200 million into space research, and the local industry already includes 70 companies and around 2,000 professionals. With co-ownership of three Earth observation satellit...

The US dollar is sliding to levels not seen in years, the euro and sterling are surging, the Japanese yen is staging a dramatic turnaround, and the Singapore dollar is at an 11-year high. What’s driving these moves, and more importantly, what should investors do to protect their portfolios? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Lim Jun Kit, Senior Strategist, Phillip Nova , for th...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the stories everyone’s talking about. First, we explore a viral sensation out of China: a scrap metal refiner nicknamed “The Alchemist” who extracted real gold from discarded SIM cards, sparking a rush for old electronics online. Could your junk drawer be hiding treasure?  Then, we turn the spotlight to Ho...

Singapore shares fell today to track movements in Asian equities. The Straits Times Index was down 0.72% at 4,869.73 points at 2.14pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.22B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have ST Engineering, after the company launched its largest unmanned cargo aircraft to date at the media preview of the Singapore Airshow yesterday, along...

From in fighting cubs to in form players, under fire coaches to underwhelming foreign signings - Sports Minutes recaps all the talking points from another round of Singapore Premier League matches...and more! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/spotted-lions-coach-gavin-lee-on-the-train-hed-like-you-to-say-hi Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listen...

Singapore’s education system has seen multiple reforms aimed at reducing academic pressure, from changes to streaming and PSLE scoring to a greater focus on holistic development. Yet, high-stakes exams continue to influence school placements, family decisions, and significant spending on tuition and enrichment. This week, the Ministry of Education announced it is reviewing both exam dif...

Bitcoin just can’t seem to catch a break, after losing ground as investors shifted into gold and silver, it’s now sliding alongside precious metals in a broader risk-off move. Prices have fallen below US$85,000 for the first time in two months, raising fresh questions about where crypto goes from here. On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Zann Kwan, Managing Partner & CIO, Re...