Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Rising energy costs linked to the Iran conflict are no longer just a distant headline, they’re hitting businesses in Singapore where it hurts most: the bottom line.  A new poll by the Singapore National Employers Federation reveals the scale of the strain: 96% of employers report higher operating costs, with nearly one in five facing increases of more than 25%. So, is this just a tempor...

Would you take on a dangerous job for big money? One woman in China is doing exactly that, managing over 60,000 venomous snakes and earning six figures a year. Plus, over at Coachella, it’s not just festival-goers losing things. From a possible $8 million ring dropped on stage to Madonna’s missing vintage outfits, things are getting a little chaotic. On What’s Trending, Hongbin J...

Singapore is stepping up its ambitions to become a global hub for precious metals trading, with efforts to enhance market infrastructure, improve price discovery, and attract central bank gold reserves. At the same time, investor behaviour is shifting with stronger participation in Asia, diverging global flows, and continued demand despite volatility. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to...

Singapore shares nudged higher today, tracking movements seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.08% at 5,008.16 points at 2.55pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.38B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Keppel Reit. The real estate investment trust (Reit) today said distributable income from operations for the first quarter rose 19.7 per cen...

The United States has seized an Iranian cargo ship in the middle of a fragile ceasefire, raising fresh doubts over whether tensions with Tehran are already escalating again. With Iran rejecting further talks and instability returning to the Strait of Hormuz, the prospects for diplomacy and the truce itself are increasingly uncertain. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Leon Goldsmith, H...

After years of “sit tight and stay defensive,” investors are now facing a very different question, not whether to take risk, but where it actually makes sense again. So what’s changing in how Asia’s wealthy are investing right now, and where is the smart money starting to move next? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sharon Tan, Head of Wealth APAC and CEO of DWS Si...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah dive into a 20-cent ‘gas and oil surcharge’ at a Joo Koon Thai stall that has sparked debate in Singapore. Is it fair transparency or hidden profiteering? As netizens split over rising costs and hawker survival, the issue goes beyond just price, raising bigger questions about what we expect from small businesses in an inflationary worl...

Singapore shares were little moved today as investors mull renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.  The Straits Times Index hovered 0.09% above the flatline at 5,002.22 points at 2.31pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.09B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Wilmar International, after the agribusiness company on Friday said it foresees &ld...

Singapore shares dipped today in line with movements seen in the region.  The Straits Times Index was down 0.23% at 4,996.10 points at 3.27pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.35B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Yangzijiang Maritime, after the maritime investments company said yesterday that it has signed contracts to acquire eight very large crud...

Geopolitical tensions in Iran are shaking markets once again, sending oil soaring and investors scrambling. But instead of rushing into gold, many are heading for cash, so what does that really signal? Is cash king again?  On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to  Gautam Chadda, Executive Director at RBC Wealth Management Asia , to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Singapore’s schools are set for a major shake-up in how they deal with bullying. By 2027, all schools will adopt standardized disciplinary measures — including detention, suspension, and in some cases caning — alongside a new online reporting system for students to flag incidents directly. The Ministry of Education says the changes are meant to create greater consistency, improve...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into a university in Yueyang that’s training the next generation of grill masters. It might sound unusual, but with thousands of restaurants and millions in revenue behind the industry, this 'BBQ diploma' is part of a bigger shift toward skills-based education and lifelong learning. So… would you sign up? Then, we pivot to a...

Singapore’s push toward autonomous transport is picking up pace, with self-driving shuttles entering public trials and plans for rapid expansion across the island. At the same time, the absence of affordable late-night transport has quietly reshaped nightlife habits, worker mobility, and business operations, raising questions about whether Singapore can truly function as a 24-hour city. On T...

From family offices to boutique advisory firms, the world of wealth management is shifting fast. Consolidation is on the rise, clients are demanding advice that’s truly tailored to them, and technology is changing how investments are managed. So what’s driving the surge in popularity of External Asset Managers, or EAMs? And how are client expectations evolving in this new landscape? On...

Move over MBTI. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into China’s viral SBTI, a chaotic, meme-fueled personality quiz that doesn’t analyze you so much as roast you. With savage labels like ‘BOSS’, ‘ATM-er’, and even ‘DEAD’, millions are jumping in… but what does its popularity say about how Gen Z sees themselves today? T...

Singapore shares dipped today as investors’ focus turned to global earnings due for the week. The Straits Times Index was down 0.13% at 5,014.72 points at 3.05pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.47B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Olam Group, after the group said today that it has obtained regulatory approvals from all jurisdictions for the prop...

When tensions rise, gold usually shines. But this time… not quite. With the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz pushing oil prices sharply higher, you’d expect investors to pile into gold. Instead, prices are slipping, and that’s raising a big question… Is gold losing its safe-haven status, or is something else at play here? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Robi...

A $2 charge for children drinking plain water has sparked an intense debate in Singapore. After a family was billed under a no-outside-drinks policy, a restaurant saw its Google rating plunge overnight amid a wave of online backlash. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh unpack why opinions are so divided, and whether ‘review bombing’ is a fair form of consumer protest...

Nearly one in five Singapore workers is overqualified for their jobs, but most aren’t stuck there by accident. New data from MOM shows 19.4% of resident workers in 2025 hold qualifications above job requirements, up from a decade ago. But the surprising part? Most say it’s by choice. Other findings from NTUC and SUTD echo the same trend, pointing to a growing group of workers deliberat...

Singapore shares inched higher today, tracking gains seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.2% at 5,017.73 points at 2.25pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.24B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch for today, we have Fraser and Neave, given how the beverage giant will invest up to NZ$20.1 million (S$15 million) in New Zealand-based honey producer Comv...

Oil prices are reacting fast to renewed tensions in the Gulf, but the bigger question for investors is what happens if this isn’t just a short shock. Which emerging markets are most exposed, who could actually benefit, and how far could this ripple into global funding conditions? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ed Parker, Managing Director, Global Head of Research, Sovereigns &amp...

Singapore’s central bank on April 14 tightened its monetary policy stance for the first time since 2022 to allow for a stronger currency in the face of soaring oil and natural gas prices from the Iran war. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said it has steepened the slope of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) policy band – signalling that it will allow the c...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the strange new world of AI-generated “slopaganda”, where bright, toy-like animations are being used to spread political messaging about the Iran conflict, and racking up hundreds of millions of views in the process. It looks like entertainment. It feels like entertainment. But is it actually influence? Then, we switch ge...

Singapore shares registered gains today as investors mull a move by the country’s central bank to tighten monetary policy settings for the first time since 2022. The Straits Times Index inched 0.51% higher to 5,009.80 points at 1.52pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.12B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Oiltek International, Koh Brothers Eco Eng...

Late but great, that's the theme of Sports Minutes today as we discuss and dissect a flurry of stoppage time winners in the Singapore Premiere League weekend gone by. Plus, Kai Whitmore has been confirmed as a new signing for the Young Lions. One step closer to the National Team? Tune in as Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times weighs in! Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raus...