Let's Talk, Singapore

This year, Old Seng Choong has conceived several festive treats with an inventive twist! They are offering local Tze char inspired Crispy Har Lok, and Marmite Chicken Floss cookies and charcoal-infused Bak Kwa Pineapple Tarts for this year's Chinese New Year! Daniel Tay, Founder, Old Seng Choong shares how his western pastry training helped evolve heritage recipes and how he came up with these inventive ideas for CNY2021.

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Over the last few days, the world turned its attention to Myanmar, after the military seized power from democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Tan Hui Yee, Straits Times, Indochina Bureau Chief shares more on the background context of the military coup, whether foreign condemnation will make any difference, and the economic impacts.

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A survey commissioned by accounting automation software leader BlackLine has revealed that 70 percent of business leaders and Finance and Accounting professionals in Singapore are concerned that their company’s financial data forecasts fail to provide an accurate picture of future performance. Terry Smagh, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific & Japan, BlackLine shares why local businesses are lacking the confidence in using financial data to inform business strategy and what can be done to improve this. 

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Asian Insider Ep 59: Myanmar in crisis as military coup comes at worst time

20:30 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Myanmar's future has been thrown into grave doubt, with international communities' options limited, as historian Dr. Thant Myint-U and analyst Richard Horsey tell host Nirmal.

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team and Adam Azlee

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Stuart Rumble, Multi Asset Investment Director, Fidelity International shares what investors can take away from the short squeeze frenzy and how investors should position around emerging markets amid the coup in Myanmar.

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As a result of Covid-19, the Scott Dunn team in Singapore has pivoted to offer local staycation packages at Singapore’s finest hotels complete with exclusive Scott Dunn perks such as confirmed early check-in, late check-out, credits for spa & dining, as well as complimentary meals. Mike Harlow, General Manager, Scott Dunn Singapore shares some of the challenges they faced during the initial part of the global lockdown and why they decided to pivot and offer local staycation packages at Singapore’s finest hotels complete. 

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According to NTUC LearningHub’s latest ‘New Normal of Sector Skills Report’, despite the pessimistic outlook towards the current job market, bright spots exist where 56 percent of employers say they are looking to hire. Jenaline Low, Director, NTUC LearningHub, Institute of Business Excellence and Healthcare Academy shares where people can look for employment opportunities, and how job seekers can obtain the skills to get into these sectors. 

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Despite not gaining a digital banking licence, iFast's business units continued to register strong growth and higher profits throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. And this week iFast has been awarded a contract to digitize Hong Kong’s retirement funds system in a consortium with Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li's PCCW. Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, Head of Consumer Equity Research at Tellimer Research shares more about how this might contribute to iFast's projected earnings and delves into why retail investors have been favouring the stock.

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Sailesh Jha, Chief Economist, RHB Banking Group, discusses the thinking behind his contrarian calls for the greenback to see strength in the near term, and Malaysia to benefit from capital inflows..

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Straits Times’ Regional Correspondent, Leslie Lopez shares more on the dramatic Myanmar military coup which saw NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi stripped from power, and what the takeover means for democracy in the country. Plus, with Fitch Ratings downgrading Malaysia economic outlook once again, what could this potentially mean for the country's foreign investments and recovery.

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