Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

It looks like Elon Musk will be part of the new incoming US government in January.  President-elect Donald Trump has named Elon Musk to a role aimed at creating a more efficient government, handing even more influence to the world's richest man who donated millions of dollars to help Trump get elected. Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will co-lead a newly created D...

Heading into the year-end AFF Championship, Singapore's head coach Tstuomo Ogura is still searching for his first win at the helm of the Lions. So how important will the upcoming friendlies against Myanmar and Chinese Taipei be, to build momentum ahead of the regional competition? And how big an issue will the striking conundrum be for Singapore, with Ikhsan and Ilhan Fandi set to miss out? Safuwa...

It seems like it’s been a while since we heard about non-fungible tokens or NFTs. The hype around it from a couple years ago has indeed died down. A report published by NFTevening said that the market for NFTs has been in such a dramatic downturn since 2023 that 95 percent of them are considered “dead.” So are NFTs truly dead? Is investing in NFTs even worth even looking at?  On Wealth Tracker, Ho...

As pet ownership rises in Singapore, so has the level of care provided by owners. But what happens when you’re not around? Perhaps you’ve got holiday plans lined up and no one to care for your fur babies?  A pet-sitter is a good idea, but they’re not only costly, it’s also hard to find a qualified and trusty pet-sitter at affordable rates.  Meet G odpawrents , a newly-launched pet-sitting platform...

Singapore may soon be the first in the world to give the police powers to control the bank accounts of stubborn scam victims. Proposed new laws could give police more powers to stop scam victims from sending money to scammers through their banks, especially if victims refuse to believe they are being scammed. With the scam situation in Singapore worsening over the years, is this measure simply too...

The use of diamonds as an investment and financial hedging tool has grown rapidly over the last few years. Investing in diamonds offers a unique opportunity, blending aesthetic appeal with potential financial gain. But what should you note when investing in diamonds? What factors determine the value of a diamond? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Fabio M Cascapera, Hon Treasurer, Diamond...

Singapore stocks started trading in negative territory this morning, despite global markets logging overnight gains. The Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.2 per cent lower at 3,730.59 points after 48.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, after the REIT’s manager today announced that the trust has d...

In the heart of Singapore, there's one football fanatic who is turning the dreams of fans into reality. Mirza Salim is the driving force behind Matchday Affairs , a tour agency that brings the excitement of Premier League matches to life for passionate football fans.  It all came to fruition after Mirza survived two strokes, five brain surgeries, and a lifetime of battling a neurological disorder...

Last Friday, the defence wrapped up its case in the Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh's trial without calling new witnesses. Mr Singh’s case will be heard in court again on Feb 17, 2025, when Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan is expected to give his verdict. Mr Singh is embroiled in controversy stemming from former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan’s lies to parliament in August and Octob...

Art has a long history as a transactable asset. Art has always demonstrated long-standing cultural significance and aesthetic qualities, which allows it to be universally appreciated and desired around the world. So what are collectors and investors looking for when it comes to modern and contemporary art? How do auction houses value an art piece? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sandy M...

Few have faced what Annie Yam has, and come out stronger. Twice a cancer survivor, Annie returned to competitive swimming, proving her spirit is as strong as her strokes. And on Sports Minutes today, she shares her emotional journey of survival, hope, and resilience. READ MORE:  https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/for-masters-swimmer-and-cancer-survivor-annie-yam-being-in-the-pool-is-already-a-vict...

Singapore shares started trading in positive territory today as markets abroad logged mixed results over the weekend.  In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.6 per cent at 3,745.92 points after 62.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Singapore Airlines after the national carrier on Friday posted a 59 per cent year-on-year...

Imagine being able to give a personalised song as a gift, a song written especially for that special person in your life. A group of passionate creators are doing just that.  My Creative Factory is a startup that works with customers to create unique songs that share personal stories, feelings, or something fun. MCF is one of the first startups in Asia to offer such a service, and the first in Sin...

Recently, we’ve seen several political figures stand on trial, from Former transport minister S. Iswaran to the leader of the Opposition party Pritam Singh. But while we see footage of these political figures entering and leaving the courthouse, we don’t see them inside the courtroom.  So, when it comes to trials of political figures, should such hearings be livestreamed?  On The Hot Seat, Hongbin...

As the Singapore Squash Open returns to the Lion City, Alex Wan, general manager of Singapore Squash, and Jerome Aw, a local wildcard, join us to share insights on the prestigious tournament. Jerome opens up about his imminent debut and training, while Alex explains what makes this event so significant. And with the sport’s inclusion for the 2028 Olympic games, tune in to see why Team Singapore's...

Singapore stocks kicked off in positive territory in early trading, as global markets continued to rally after Donald Trump’s election win this week. To end the day, the Straits Times Index closed up 1.4%. Meanwhile, shares of Singapore banks have performed strongly, with DBS up 40%, OCBC up 24% and UOB up 26% year to date. So what’s driving Singapore banks' strong share performance? What risks sh...

Ahead of the election,Trump said, “Never sell your bitcoin.” Now, Bitcoin jumped to a fresh record after former President Donald Trump barreled towards another term in the Oval Office. Reaching above $75,000 for the first time in its history, Bitcoin’s sudden surge came from Trump’s promise to support the crypto industry if elected. Like stocks and bonds, crypto is all part of the Trump-trade. But...

Supermom is a digital platform created for moms, providing product and service recommendations through a community-driven network. It enables moms to earn income by sharing insights and content, connecting like-minded parents across Southeast Asia. Recognising a gap where brands struggled to connect authentically with Southeast Asia’s parenting community, Supermom offers brands access to “key opin...

Singapore shares began trading in positive territory, as markets saw mixed results after the Trump win. The STI ended the day well up in the green, up nearly 2%. Over on Wall Street, the Trump Trade is in full force with stocks climbing higher, led by outsized gains like financials. But with Trump returning to office, what’s the immediate impact on China? How is it going to impact the ongoing chip...

The hustle and bustle lifestyle of Singapore never seems to stop where fatigue sometimes has become all too familiar. That might have been one of the reasons why our next guest decided to start his own energy supplement brand. But not just any regular supplement, it’s Singapore’s very own first energy gummies.  On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with James Li, Founder of Jolt as he explai...

The Singdollar had a good run so far. But post-US elections - the Singapore currency has been hit by the dollar rally, falling as much as 1.7 per cent. So can we now expect more downside for the SGD? What does this mean for those holding the SG dollar? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Yen Nee Lee, Senior Country Risk Analyst, BMI (a Fitch Solutions company) , to find out more.   See omn...

China’s healthcare policies have not kept up with its rapidly ageing population, since its hospital-centric approach to care makes it difficult to manage an increasingly large number of patients.  Moreover, a shortage of doctors – exacerbated by low pay making the profession unattractive – has led to endemic corruption.  Singaporean Professor Wong Tien Yin is looking to transform China's healthcar...

This year’s Singapore Fintech Festival surrounds six major themes that will frame 2025.  At the front and centre of discussions is the Roadmap for AI and Quantum. Of particular focus this year is the boom in generative AI, which uses algorithms to identify patterns within existing data to come up with new content, ranging from text, images, videos and even codes.  The technology is said to hold th...

Did you know that despite what appeared to be a tough time for funding and valuations, the global fintech report coauthored by Boston Consulting Group and QED Investors in June this year noted that the global fintech market remained a hotbed for innovation and growth.  The firms expect fintech to reach a market size of US$1.5 trillion in revenue by 2030. That’s about a five times growth from numbe...

Singapore shares began the day trading in positive territory, mirroring overnight gains in markets abroad. The STI ended the day in the green as well, closing up 0.6%.  With investors taking a close a look at the US presidential election, which is in full swing, how will the Singapore markets be impacted by the ongoing US elections? And what’s driving AI startup valuations? On Market View, Willie...