Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

As Money Matters comes to a close, the team takes a heartfelt look back at the journey that brought them here. From its early days, to becoming a staple on MONEY FM 89.3, this final episode reflects on the conversations, connections, and countless interviews that shaped the show. Hosts Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian, as well as producers Nadiah Koh, and Alexandra Parada reunite on air to share behind-the-scenes memories, from unscripted moments and last-minute saves to the camaraderie that carried them through nearly a thousand interviews a year. In this emotional farewell, the team expresses gratitude to one another and to listeners who supported the show, while looking ahead to new beginnings within the MONEY FM family. It’s the end of one chapter, but also the start of something new on May 4. Stay tuned! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The list of Singapore’s top employers for 2026 has been released this week, and dominating the top five spots are JPMorganChase, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore, Singapore Airlines, Apple and Motorola Solutions. So what really defines a “best employer” today? Is it salary, flexibility, mental health support — or something deeper like trust and workplace culture? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Eunice Grace Choong, Senior Professional from Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On What’s Trending Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into the viral panda murals transforming an ageing HDB block in Teck Whye into a cheerful community landmark, to the subtle rise of shrinkflation quietly making everyday groceries smaller while prices stay the same. They explore why public spaces matter more than we think, and whether Singaporeans are paying more attention to what surrounds them… and what’s slowly disappearing from their shopping carts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lombard Odier’s latest FX and commodities outlook maintains a negative stance on the US dollar, driven by structural imbalances and shifting global dynamics. Despite resilient US data, the dollar’s strength is expected to fade as the Federal Reserve eases policy and its yield advantage narrows. Against this backdrop, Asian currencies are coming into sharper focus, particularly those supported by strong current account positions, such as the Chinese yuan and Thai baht, while higher-yielding currencies like the Indian rupee and Indonesian rupiah may continue to face pressure. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Luca Bindelli, Head of Investment Strategy at Lombard Odier, to break down the outlook for the dollar, Asia FX, and where investors can find opportunities in today’s currency markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore shares rose today despite most Asian markets logging a negative session. The Straits Times Index was up 0.54% at 4,887.45 points at 1.22pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.45B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have for you DBS, after the lender posted a net profit of S$2.93 billion for its first quarter ended Mar 31, up 1 per cent from S$2.9 billion in the year-ago period. Elsewhere, from how outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed ​he would stay on as a governor for now to defend the institution's independence, to a low down of US big tech earnings ahead of Apple’s results, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On the final edition of Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with her regular Thursday guests Terence Wong, CEO, Azure Capital and David Chow, Director, Azure Capital. The trio also took a walk down memory lane to reflect the past 4 years of Market View commentaries and how the segment has evolved over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The SPL title may seemingly be heading the Sailors way, but the race to finish fourth is far from over. 3 points separate Balestier Khalsa in 4th and Geylang International in 5th - with 3 games to go, two of which are against each other. So a grandstand finish on the cards, and one man who could play a pivotal role for the Tigers is Jakov Katuša. He sits down with Sports Minutes to tell us all about his past, his present and his future. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Arab Emirates has announced it is leaving OPEC and OPEC+, effective May 1, a stunning move given it has been part of the group since before the UAE became a nation in 1971. This comes at a time when the Iran war has already disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through global energy markets. Is this a huge blow to OPEC and Saudi Arabia? What happens now to oil prices? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Mukesh Sahdev, Founder and CEO, XAnalysts, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to “Physical Silver: When Paper Promises Meet Physical Reality,” the silver market has been running persistent supply deficits, with above-ground inventories continuing to decline into 2026. As existing metal is increasingly redistributed rather than newly supplied, a gap is emerging between paper markets and physical availability. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Gregor Gregersen, Founder of the Silver Bullion Group, about what this disconnect means for silver prices, market stability, and investor positioning today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh discuss On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh discuss the story of a man who has built an unusual career out of doing almost nothing, renting himself out as company for strangers who want someone to accompany them through everyday moments, from meals and walks to emotionally difficult situations. At the same time, in London, chefs have set a new world record by creating a 440.6-metre-long tiramisu using 20,000 eggs and 150,000 biscuits, turning a classic dessert into a massive, record-breaking spectacle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore shares dipped today as Asian markets traded mixed. The Straits Times Index fell 0.37% to 4,869.50 points at 2.00pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.23B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Mapletree Industrial Trust, after the Reit posted a distribution per unit of S$0.0309 for its fourth quarter ended Mar 31, 8 per cent down from S$0.0336 in the same period last year. Elsewhere, from the surprise exit of the United Arab Emirates from OPEC and implications on oil prices, to how tech shares took a hit after the Wall Street Journal reported that AI heavyweight OpenAI had missed internal targets for weekly users and revenue, and what this means for US tech firms set to report overnight, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – the likely outcome of the Federal Reserve’s April meeting, the last with Jerome Powell as its chair. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeffrey Yap, Regional Head of Wealth Management, Hong Leong Bank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore Police are urging the public: don’t look away. A new campaign encouraging people to report sexual crimes comes as cases of molestation, rape and offences involving minors all rose last year. So what’s driving the numbers, and how exactly can ordinary bystanders really make a difference? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Claudia Tan, Journalist from The Straits Times, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia’s investment landscape is shifting in subtle but significant ways. Even amid global market volatility, capital continues to flow into long-term assets like infrastructure, logistics and digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, rising data demand is making data centres one of the fastest-growing segments in the region. But questions remain about whether capital is being deployed into the most attractive long-term opportunities. And as ESG and digital infrastructure take centre stage, how much of this growth is truly structural versus momentum-driven? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Brian Chinappi, Managing Director and Global Head of Real Estate & Data Centres at Actis, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh dive into how employees are getting paid time off to care for sick pets, and whether that’s something necessary for all workplaces to enforce. Then, they unpack China’s booming “lunch-break economy,” where workers are spending their midday hour on massages, nap cinemas, gym sessions and even oxygen chambers just to survive the workday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore shares dipped today, in line with regional markets. The Straits Times Index was 0.03% below the flatline at 4,891.12 points at 2.35pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.16B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust, after the manager today posted a 2.6 per cent fall in distribution per unit to S$0.019 for the fourth quarter ended March 2026, from S$0.0195 in the same year-ago period. Elsewhere, from movements in the Japanese Yen after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady despite a hawkish split, to how investors weigh the geopolitical maelstrom in the Middle East, more international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, how Meta is reportedly preparing to unwind its acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus after China blocked the deal on national security grounds, and what the US-China tech rivalry could mean for the US tech sector going forward. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The finish line is in sight for the Singapore Premier League, with the Sailors moving another step closer to defend their crown. But could there yet be more twists and turns? Plus, the end of season brings coronation for players too. So who's in the running for the individuals awards? Zia-ul Raushan and Deepanraj Ganesan run the rule on Sports Minutes. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump was swiftly evacuated from a hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after shots were fired, triggering panic among attendees that included Vice-President JD Vance, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other senior political and media figures. The suspect has been identified in reports as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California. In the aftermath, Trump described the incident in political terms, suggesting it reflected his influence and prominence, and reigniting debate over rising political tensions and violence in the US. What do we know about what happened and how does this fit into earlier threats against the president? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow at the US Programme, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU Singapore, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to J. Rotbart & Co.’s Exclusive Precious Metals Report for Q1 2026, the quarter was defined by record price peaks followed by a sharp March correction, as volatility rose but underlying market fundamentals remained intact. Gold outperformed, maintaining positive year-to-date gains despite a pullback from January highs, while silver declined amid rising real yields and a stronger US dollar. On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Richard Wang, Country Manager for Singapore at J. Rotbart & Co., to unpack the key drivers behind these moves and what they could mean for precious metals markets in Q2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On What's Trending Hongbin and Nadiah Koh dive into two of the most unbelievable stories making waves right now. First up, a Chinese carmaker has reportedly been granted a patent for an in-car toilet that literally slides out from under your seat, activated by voice command. Is this peak innovation or a hygiene nightmare waiting to happen? Then, in the world of football, World Cup final tickets are now being listed for as much as $2.3 million per seat on FIFA’s resale platform… meaning four friends would need nearly $9 million just to sit together behind the goal. So who exactly is this tournament for anymore? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore shares slid today even as most Asian markets traded higher. The Straits Times Index was down 0.65% at 4,890.76 points at 2.51pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.17B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel, after the firm commenced arbitration proceedings against three entities it entered into an investment with in 2016, concerning a residential and mixed-use development project in Vietnam. Elsewhere, from how investors are reacting to an Axios report that Iran seeks to make a deal on opening the Strait of Hormuz first ‌and postpone ⁠nuclear talks, to what to expect ahead of big tech earnings this week, more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – all about Japan’s Nikkei hitting a record high on earnings, as well as expectations ahead of a slew of global central bank decisions this week. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll revisit the real estate sector today by looking at a REIT that is solely focused on the UK market. Founded in 2020 and listed on the Singapore Exchange, Elite UK Reit aims to provide unitholders with what it calls a secure income stream from public sector tenants such as the UK Department for Work and Pensions. The Reit’s portfolio spans across 148 properties which are mostly freehold or virtually freehold in places within town centres, near amenities or transportation nodes. More notably, the Manager of the Reit said it is also tapping on sectors that exhibit strong growth potential in the UK, say purpose-built student accommodation and built-to-rent residential assets. On the whole, the manager said the Reit has what it describes as a “long and diversified lease expiry profile and prudent capital management”, and is positioned for sustainable stability and growth from government-leased properties and the living sector. All in, Elite UK Reit posted a distribution per unit of £0.0149 (1.49 British pence) for the second half of the 2025 financial year ended Dec 31. That’s around 1.4 per cent higher than the DPU seen in H2 2024. The figure also represented a payout ratio of 95 per cent. Elite UK Reit is a counter that we want to talk about given how the firm is on the charm offensive to appeal to the investing community. For one thing, the Reit had in February 2026 signed new lease agreements with the UK Government for properties occupied by the Department for Work and Pensions, a move that has helped it improve its Weighted Average Lease Expiry (or WALE) to 7.2 years from 2.4 years. The Reit’s manager said this is one of the longest WALE duration among Singapore Reits. Beyond that, the Reit is also actively repositioning some of its properties including one in Peel Park, Blackpool. Its manager said the Reit has secured planning consent to develop a data centre building on the roughly 20-acre plot. So how will the moves augment the firm’s growth trajectory while increasing income stability? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Joshua Liaw, CEO, Elite UK Reit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.