Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

With just two days left of 2025, attention now turns to how we’re getting ready to ring in the New Year, and what you need to know before heading out. From countdown celebrations and fireworks to road closures and enhanced security measures, we’ll walk you through what to expect as Singapore gears up for New Year’s festivities, so you can plan ahead and celebrate safely. Whether...

We’re taking a step back to look at the property market as 2025 draws to a close. How did the market perform this year? What surprised buyers and investors, and what trends are likely to carry into 2026? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer at MOGUL SG , as we take stock of where the property market stands heading into the new year. See omnyst...

Singapore shares inched higher today in the last full trading day of 2025. The Straits Times Index was up 0.51% at 4,657.14 points at 2.39pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$499.98M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have ST Engineering, after the group today said that it expects to report a positive net profit for the second half of 2025, after taking i...

As we head into the new year, on What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada talk about stories that got us thinking about both everyday habits and the future ahead.  With shoppers still buying millions of plastic bags despite a five-cent charge, an NUS professor has suggested raising the fee to 10 cents, reigniting the debate over convenience versus sustainability. And zooming...

With schools set to reopen in the new year, so are the sniffles, coughs, and fevers. But are you really protecting your kids, or just going through the motions?  On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong busts common myths about infections, from hand sanitisers to vitamins, and showing what actually works to keep your family safe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore shares were little moved today as investors kicked off the last trading week of 2025. The Straits Times Index was up 0.04% at 4,638.14 points at 2.47pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$423.31M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel and Keppel DC Reit. That's after the two entities said on Dec 26 that the authorities have conditionally green-li...

We’re looking back at a big one for Singapore - the Singapore dollar. How did it really perform in 2025, what shaped its moves, and what should we be watching as we head into a brand-new year? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Sim Moh Siong, Currency Strategist at Bank of Singapore , to break it all down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From K-pop drama to everyday struggles and holiday surprises, today’s stories have us talking. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into how NewJeans member Danielle Marsh was dropped by her agency ADOR after a year of legal battles, injunctions, and public disputes.. Next, in Singapore, a viral TikTok sparked debate over whether the monthly $750 allowance for fu...

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been found guilty of abuse of power in the biggest trial yet to emerge from the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. He was charged with four counts of corruption and 21 counts of money laundering over the alleged illegal transfer of about RM2.2 billion from the state fund. What does this verdict now mean for Najib’s remaining political influence?...

Singapore shares dipped today with investors now back from the Christmas Day holiday. The Straits Times Index was down 0.06% at 4,633.73 points at 2.42pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$426.90M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Sembcorp Industries, after Sembcorp Green Infra, an Indian unit of Sembcorp Industries, today completed the acquisition of a 100...

Tokenised funds are emerging as one of the most exciting developments in asset management, promising new ways to structure, access, and scale investments. Yet adoption has been cautious, with regulatory frameworks still evolving. Singapore’s Project Guardian has just released a playbook for operationalising tokenised funds, covering everything from digital-native fund structures to the use o...

On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada started with a viral grandmother who refused to buy Christmas presents for her grandchildren, choosing instead to invest money for their future. That theme carried into the workplace, where YouTuber Cleetus McFarland surprised his 20 employees with quirky Christmas bonuses, $3,000 mini Jeep-style go-karts, earning praise for creativity and rai...

2025 has been anything but a straight line for Asian currencies. Some have surprised with resilience, others have slid to record lows, all shaped by global volatility, domestic pressures, and a shifting US dollar. From the Indian rupee’s struggles to the Malaysian ringgit’s standout run, it’s been a year of clear winners and losers. So who came out on top, who fell behind, and wh...

Singapore shares dipped in a shortened trading session today as investors looked ahead to the Christmas Day holiday. The Straits Times Index was down 0.16% at 4,631.39 points at 10.59am Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$279.02M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Manulife US Real Estate Investment Trust.  That’s after the Reit’s manager post...

From Secret Santa shockers to Robin Hood Santas and a nativity that’s gone to the dogs, today’s What's Trending stories cover the full naughty-to-nice spectrum. Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada discuss a student in the Philippines that was left distressed after receiving a wrapped hollow concrete block as a Secret Santa gift, sparking outrage online over cruelty disguised as a prank....

Cambodia and Thailand are on the brink of returning to a ceasefire, but only after weeks of intense fighting that has left dozens dead and nearly a million displaced. The renewed hostilities, sparked by accusations over landmines and long-standing border disputes, have escalated into airstrikes and heavy shelling along critical border towns. Now, all eyes are on the Christmas Eve meeting of the Ge...

Tequila has been on fire in the global spirits scene, but 2025 tells a more nuanced story. Growth has slowed, inventories are piling up, and investors are getting picky. So, if you’ve ever thought of tequila as more than just a drink, maybe even as an investment, what really worked this year, what stumbled, and what’s next for the market? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jaco...

Singapore shares rose today to track gains seen in regional markets. The Straits Times Index was up 0.39% at 4,628.44 points at 12.44pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$606.52M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have CapitaLand Investment, after the firm said Bursa-listed CapitaLand Malaysia Trust (CLMT) has agreed to buy five high-specification industrial faci...

Today on What’s Trending , Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada discuss a breakup that ended in court after a man in China sued his ex-fiancée over dating costs, a Canadian student who went viral for falling in love with Singapore’s neighbourhood bakeries, and a US graduation ceremony that ditched tradition for memes as students turned their big walk across the stage into internet...

It’s been one year since the introduction of HDB’s Prime, Plus and Standard classification framework. But while Prime flats continue to attract strong interest, demand for Plus flats has been more uneven, with some buyers appearing cautious about taking on tighter resale conditions, without a clear location premium. So what does this tell us about buyer behaviour, affordability, and th...

After two years of declining global art sales, 2025 didn't shape up as a rebound, but a reset. High-end auctions slowed, while more accessible works held their ground, and newer categories like digital art found an audience. So what really drove investor behaviour this year? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Grace Lau, Founder & CEO, ArtWise , to find out more.  See omnystudio.co...

Singapore shares rose today in line with movements seen across regional markets. The Straits Times Index was up 0.65% at 4,599.43 points at 3.14pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$785.39M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have CNMC Goldmine, after a Malaysian unit of CNMC was hit with an additional income tax and penalty by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia...

Welcome to another episode of What's Trending! To start the week, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada discuss how much to give in an angbao from market-rate dinners at five-star hotels to keeping it stress-free or not even bothering to show up. Then, we switch gears to something holly-jolly - from tiny snowmen made while traveling abroad to a colossal 19-metre snowman in Harbin, China. See omnystud...

It’s back to the financial services industry as we speak to a financial advisory firm that’s wholly owned by Singlife.  Founded in 2016, Singlife Financial Advisers seeks to empower individuals to achieve financial freedom with its team of digitally enabled advisers, through innovative solutions that support its clients at every stage of their life.  The firm primarily looks...

Crypto is no longer just a niche play. Asia’s high-net-worth individuals are increasingly allocating real portions of their portfolios to digital assets. According to Sygnum’s 2025 APAC HNWI Report, nearly half of HNWIs in the region now dedicate more than 10% of their wealth to crypto, viewing it as a tool for long-term preservation and legacy planning rather than pure speculation. Wh...