You’d like a marble counter top, zebra wood for your floors and designer fixtures. But before all that, shouldn’t you figure the budget out and if you have the money? If not, maybe there are loans out there to tap on. For more insights on how to ‘hack’ your home renovations, Howie Lim speaks to Jenn Ong, managing director of GXS Bank.

Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips.

Highlights:

00:43 Home renovations - exciting or overwhelming

03:26 Setting realistic budgets

05:04 Flexibility in loan payments

09:08 The best financial solutions

11:36 Must dos

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to [email protected].

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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim ([email protected])

With Jenn Ong, managing director, GXS Bank

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

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Asian stocks lifted by hopes for US-China talks after UK deal; Singapore dollar at 7-month high against US dollar; OCBC keeps 2025 guidance, but tariffs could affect about 3% of OCBC’s loan book.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

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Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

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In today's episode Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle chats with Lee Lung-Nien, Chairman of Citi Private Bank, Asia South to find out what it takes to succeed as an investment banker, why he thinks you should stay in the same company and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hook

00:28 - Intro

00:42 - Lung-Nien's introduction

01:13 - What does a banker do?

02:21 - On staying in the same company

03:07 - How he ended up in banking

04:18 - "You don't need to study banking."

05:50 - What he looks out for when hiring

08:15 - Trick question during interviews

11:27 - "Do things outside of work"

12:00 - On bankers working long hours

14:48 - What investment bankers really do

16:09 - Investment bankers earing 5-figures

19:06 - "Young people have no patience."

20:45 - Job switching vs loyalty

23:27 - Quickfire questions

27:46 - What he would tell his younger self

29:06 - Stressing over internships

32:50 - Final quote

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Estelle

Edited by: Andrew Wong and Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Andrew Wong

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

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The world’s 1.4 million catholics have a new Pope; Trump predicts that punitive U.S. tariffs on Beijing of 145% would likely come down; China and Russia agree to strengthen cooperation and Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. says that India and Pakistan have had contact. 

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. 

Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on:

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Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

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Asian markets mixed as tariff risks weigh on US Fed rate pause; Toyota sees US$1.3 billion profit hit in two months on tariffs; DBS net profit falls 2%, but beats expectations, predicts 5 to 6% 2025 growth.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

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Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

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BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and China, missile testing activities by North Korea, increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, and the Federal Reserve’s position on tariffs and their subsequent impact on inflation. In regional news, Singapore's aviation sector has demonstrated a strong capacity for recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. 

Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btlenson

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Website: bt.sg/lenson

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

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BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks rise as China-US trade talks boost optimism; China ramps up monetary stimulus ahead of US trade meeting; Pakistan stocks tumble after India missile attack; Australian dollar hits new five-month high on US-China trade talks.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

---

Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

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Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions between India and Pakistan, US-Canada diplomatic exchange, and upcoming US-China trade talks. The episode also covers Japan's economic growth and Singapore's new SME Sustainability Hub.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. 

Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

---

Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btlenson

Amazon: bt.sg/lensam

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YouTube Music: bt.sg/lensyt

Website: bt.sg/lenson

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

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US Dollar recovers some losses, Asian stocks gain as traders eye tariff deals; Hong Kong sells record amount of currency to defend exchange peg; Gold hits one-week high on safe-haven demand, Fed decision loom; Why Epicsoft Asia is taking Ban Leong private.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

---

Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

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Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli-Palestinian tensions, Russian-Ukrainian conflicts, US-Canadian tariff discussions, ASEAN financial initiatives, and Singapore's election turnout. 

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. 

Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Website: bt.sg/lenson

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

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BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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