Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

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 autonomy and dignity of our elderly citizens, who may still possess the skill and wisdom to drive safely?

On The Hot Seat, we are here to debate a question where the future of our roads may depend on the choices we make today: Should there be a maximum age limit for drivers in Singapore?

Hongbin Jeong speaks to Dr Kwa, Lecturer, Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme at the School of Social Sciences, NTU and Walter Theseira, Associate Professor for the Economics Programme at Singapore University of Social Sciences as they discuss the pros and cons of a maximum driving age limit here in Singapore.

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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 vaulter who set national records despite a career-threatening spinal injury, now a senior consultant at Capgemini & Angelina Liu, a Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Programme member.

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Market View: Apple reportedly developing a more conversational Siri assistant; Upgrade to Singapore’s full year GDP forecast; Japan’s inflation slows slightly in October, outlook with stimulus package; Thai Beverage’s full year net profit down 1% yoy and more

Singapore stocks started trading higher today as a better-than-expected quarterly gross domestic product and a higher forecast for this year boosted sentiment. 

That was even as the government downgraded expectations for exports this year.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.3 per cent at 3,750.68 points after 46.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market. 

In terms of companies to watch today, we have Thai Beverage, after the beverage company posted a net profit of 27.2 billion baht (S$1.1 billion) for its full year ended September, a slight drop of 1 per cent from a year earlier.

Elsewhere, from more on the outlook for the Japanese economy, to how Apple is reportedly racing to develop a more conversational version of its Siri digital assistant, more international and corporate headlines remain in focus.

On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Too Jun Cheong, Assistant Dealing Manager from Moomoo Singapore.

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Leading European asset manager, Amundi has added two new low-cost index funds. These funds mirror the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index, and are listed under the CPF Investment Scheme. 

This means investors here in Singapore will be able to tap into their CPF savings to gain a passive and cost effective exposure to major indices.

On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sunny Leung, Head of ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta Sales for Asia (Ex Japan) at Amundi to find out what kind of opportunities this will create for Singaporean investors. 

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A recent study conducted by UK-based YouGov ranked Singapore right at the top of the countries which need more sleep. Singaporeans are the most sleep-deprived among the 17 markets surveyed, with 54% getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep.

Is it time to reclaim sleep and conquer insomnia? Somnus Sleep Wellness, a Singapore-based sleep disorder centre aims to help people achieve the restorative sleep they deserve.

On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Eric Lim and Dr Julian Lim, Co-Founders of Somnus Sleep Wellness to find out more.

 

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It is all about the business of love today as we speak to a leading provider of digital technologies designed to help people make meaningful connections. 

Founded 25 years ago, our guest today is Match group, which pioneered the concept of online dating and continues to foster innovation in the dating industry daily. 

The firm boasts a portfolio of brands and is more commonly known as the company behind Tinder, Match and Pairs, providing matching services in over 40 languages to users all over the world.

Today, Match Group has a footprint in 20 offices worldwide, hiring some 2,000 employees. Here in Asia, it is headquartered in Singapore, with its regional team spread across markets including Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Vietnam and Thailand. 

The company recently reported its third quarter financial performance, where its operating income stood at US$211 million, down 14 per cent on the year impacted by impairments of tangibles and other charges relating to its exit from Hakuna and other live streaming services. But what were the reasons behind the exit, and how is its Asia business faring on the whole?

Speaking of Match Group’s Asia business, the firm is largely zoomed in on the Japanese market through its dating and marriage app called “Pairs”. 

With a total of over 20 million registered users, Pairs is said to have facilitated every one in 10 marriages in Japan. But what are the key learnings from Pair’s operations in Japan, and how far can the operating model in Japan be replicated in other Asian markets with lower marriage rates?  

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Malgosia Green, CEO of Match Group Asia.

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In this digital age, financial influencers-commonly referred to as “finfluencers”- have gained significant traction. Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have become popular hubs for many finfluencers to advise their followers on investment opportunities.

However, this emerging trend has raised concerns among regulators globally.

In Singapore, MAS board member Alvin Tan emphasised that there is a need for tighter oversight of financial influencers. Should ‘finfluencers’ really be licensed?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Gerald Wong, founder & CEO of Beansprout, a MAS- licensed platform helping consumers to make better financial decisions to find out more.

 

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Singapore stocks began trading in positive territory today after global equities ended mixed overnight.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) inched up 0.1 per cent to 3,748.25 points, after 54.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market.

In terms of companies to watch, we have Singtel, after the telecom group today announced changes to its senior management, to support new business priorities of its growth plan. 

Elsewhere, from more on how US prosecutors charged Indian tycoon Gautam Adani with helping to drive a US$250 million bribery scheme, to a breakdown of Nvidia’s latest earnings – more corporate headlines remain in focus. 

Also on deck – how US President-elect Donald Trump’s team is reportedly holding discussions with the digital asset industry on whether to create a new crypto-specific White House post. 

On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

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Whiskey has become an increasingly popular investment for many. Over the last decade, the value of rare whiskies has shot up 582%.

In the world of whisky collecting, few stories are as captivating as that of Ong Cheng Kiat, a passionate collector whose journey began with a remarkable find: The Black Bowmore DB5 1964.  

But what about rare whiskys that make them good investments? And will 2025 be a stellar year for whisky investors?

On The Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Ong Cheng Kiat, Executive Chairman of Golden Hung Ho and Premium Whisky Collector to find out more.

 

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Is bus-sharing a thing in Singapore? RushOwl is a Singaporean startup that aims to be digital public transportation for anyone, anywhere to create their own commuting plans

No more endless waiting, crowded metros, expensive rides, frustration of traffic jams.

RushOwl’s AI powered solutions ensure smoother connections, shorter journeys, and fewer vehicles on the road.

All you have to do is sit back and relax, knowing you’re making a choice that’s not only better for you, but also the environment.On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Shin Ng, CEO, RushOwl Group to find out more.

 

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