Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

In recent weeks, the US dollar gains driven by the so-called Trump Trade after former President Donald Trump claimed victory in the US election. That’s as the prospect of quicker US inflation and trade tariffs once Donald Trump returns to the White House boosted the dollar at the expense of other assets. But last week, the US dollar saw a slump, reversing its gains. Has the Trump Trade fizzled out...

Around the world, people are becoming increasingly mindful of their personal health and wellness, especially with their choices of food products consumed daily. But how do you find healthy and organic food that’s not only good for you, but also pocket friendly? After 15 years working in New York and Singapore as a stressed-out financial analyst, and struggling with a host of health issues, Riyana...

Building safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence that could benefit all of humanity and enrich our lives. That’s what we are going to talk about today.  Founded in 2015, our guest for today is AI research and deployment company OpenAI.  The firm is famously known for its flagship AI model or chatbot ChatGPT, which reacts to questions in a conversational way. The chatbot could even admi...

The removal of a retirement age in Singapore does not mandate lifelong work but instead empowers individuals to remain economically active for as long as they wish. Studies have shown that many older Singaporeans value the opportunity to work during their later years, as it supports independence and self-sufficiency. This flexibility is becoming increasingly important given Singapore's low birth r...

There’s been a shift in allocations impacting on luxury asset value, according to the Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2024. The Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index fell 1% over the year, pulled down by falling values in rare whisky, classic cars, handbags and furniture. Meanwhile, art, jewellery and watches helped offset some of these falls. But does this reveal a need for an ever more discerning ap...

Singapore stocks were trading in negative territory today, following continued worries regarding US president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) declined 0.4 per cent to 3,721.78 points after 27.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch today, we have IHH Healthcare, after the private healthcare group sa...

Singapore-based artificial intelligence firm HELF A provides professionals in the health and wellness industry with advanced AI tools. Built by a medical doctor for health professionals and students alike, HELF provides access to clear, evidence-based insights from vast amounts of medical data, in seconds. It also helps to make informed research and clinical decisions, allowing medical professiona...

Indonesia's regional elections have showcased significant wins for candidates aligned with President Prabowo Subianto's coalition, except in the critical capital, Jakarta. While official results will be confirmed between November 30 and December 15, independent pollsters already indicate a broad sweep for Prabowo-backed candidates in key provinces like Central Java, West Java, and East Java. On Th...

Singapore shares opened higher today as traders took to the sidelines ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday. As at 12 pm, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.2 per cent at 3,714.78 points after 430.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have DBS, because DBS and Japan Finance Corporation (JFC) signed a memorandum of understanding to help Japa...

Seven Clean Seas is an environmental organization dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution. Founded in 2018 by Tom Peacock-Nazil, its mission is to remove 10 million kilograms of plastic from the oceans by 2025. Through innovative cleanup technologies, such as solar-powered boats, and impactful waste management initiatives in regions like Thailand and Indonesia, Seven Clean Seas is creating l...

Today we’re going to talk about a logistics company that started out of a second hand van a decade ago.  Founded in 2014 by a group of three friends, our guest is e-commerce express logistics company Ninja Van Group. Fast forward to the present, the firm is now a technology enabled logistics organisation backed by marquee investors including GeoPost, Alibaba, and B Capital Group. Just to give you...

China has experienced a spate of violent attacks this year. Earlier this month, a man ploughed a car into crowds at a sports complex in the southern city of Zhuhai, killing 35 and wounding 43. This attack follows a string of similar crimes as China struggles to revive economic growth, keep people employed and boost confidence. These types of attacks are challenging Beijing’s proud reputation for p...

What if football was more than just a game? On Sports Minutes, 17-year-old Denilson - a footballer with Geylang International - shares how the beautiful game became his safe haven from life’s challenges. From growing up without his parents to training in Japan, he talks about resilience, grit, and chasing a dream against all odds. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-giv...

Singapore stocks traded lower this afternoon, as investors continued to digest the threat of Trump’s tariffs. As at about noon time (12.01 pm), the Straits Times Index (STI) was down 0.3 per cent at 3,702.8 points after 421.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Post, after the national postal service provider said yesterday tha...

Financial efficiency is the backbone of any successful organisation, yet many traditional tools fall short in addressing the unique needs of finance teams. Here enters a company which is transforming the way finance professionals work and that’s Summit. Summit's platform is specifically designed to streamline accounts payable processes, consolidate expense management, and provide real-time insight...

Investing in luxury handbags has become a popular trend among fashion enthusiasts, collectors, and investors alike. In fact, according to the Straits Times' calculations, returns on Hermes’ Birkin bags nearly match those of S&P 500 investments. So what kind of returns can we expect from investing in a Birkin? Do all luxury bags have investment potential?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speak...

For some, a fine wine portfolio is a chance to indulge in a passion of collecting some of the world’s finest and rarest wines. Others see fine wine as a valuable part of an investment portfolio. What kind of returns can we expect from investing in wine?  How do they differ from other alternative assets? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Joe Alim, Managing Director, Asia of Cult Wines to...

Singapore stocks were trading lower today, after US president-elect Donald Trump said he would impose an extra 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods. As at noon, the Straits Times Index (STI) was down 0.3 per cent to 3,720.24 points after 645.8 million securities changed hands in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Sats, because the in-flight caterer and ground han...

Kintry is a proudly Malaysian snack brand born out of love, resilience, and a deep appreciation for food. Founded by Michelle Chai, a single mother inspired by her daughter’s dietary needs, Kintry began as a labor of love in her home kitchen. Michelle’s goal was simple yet heartfelt: to create snacks that were not only delicious but also wholesome, healthy, and reminiscent of the comfo...

The upcoming general election in 2025 will be a high-stakes one. That’s according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  Speaking at the People’s Action Party conference at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, he told party members: “Please don’t think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government.” He added that even a modest swing in popular votes against the PAP can lead to very diffe...

Ever heard of the saying “you only realise what you’ve lost when it’s gone”? Well that has certainly been the case for Tanjong Pagar United this season - with a host of high profile exits, both within their coaching team and playing personnel culminating in the team languishing at the bottom of the Singapore Premier League table. Why and how has it amounted to this? And was it a case of jumping sh...

The art market is nearing a critical inflection point, according to a new 2024 survey of global collecting from Art Basel and UBS. Rich people are getting richer, but art represents a lower percentage of their net worth than in years past. Still, people want to buy art; however, what art they’re buying is changing. So what are high net worth individuals buying into? What are the art investment tre...

Singapore stocks traded higher today as they followed other markets in the region in making gains. As at noon, the Straits Times Index (STI) shed some earlier gains, climbing around 0.2 per cent to 3,754.88 points after 35.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have City Developments Limited. The property giant and its joint venture associates...

A number of accidents involving elderly drivers in recent months have sparked a debate over whether seniors should continue to take the wheel. Is age truly just a number, or does the decline in physical and cognitive abilities over time present a growing risk to the safety of our roads? Should we, as a society, take action and set a maximum age limit for driving? Or do we risk infringing on the au...

What happens when medal-winning athletes exchange the thrill of victory for the challenges of the corporate world? Sports Minutes delves into the inspiring journeys of champions who’ve channeled their resilience and passion to excel beyond the world of sports - in conversation with Wendy Koh, Managing Director & Executive Vice President of Capgemini SEA, Rachel Yang, a retired national pole va...