Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Singapore shares were pulled into positive territory today, bucking a global selloff on Wall Street and Europe amid cautious investor trading.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.5 per cent to 3,242.28 points after 30.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market. 

Meanwhile, international headlines are in focus today with all eyes on markets in Greater China after property giant Country Garden paid interest on two different dollar bonds, and its spillover impact on Evergrande and the broader market.

Also on the table today, how Denmark’s Novo Nordisk became Europe’s most valuable company by market value.

On Market View, Drive Time’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Ken Shih, Head of Wealth Management, Greater China, SAXO Markets. 

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The adoption of digital solutions within the construction industry is at the heart of our conversation today. 

Founded in 2014, our guest Novade develops cloud and mobile applications for construction companies to use in work sites.

The applications streamline work processes such as quality control, safety inspections and workforce management and reduce the paperwork needed in construction projects. 

Novade currently operates in over 20 countries with a user base of over 150,000 people. Some of its customers include big names such as Samsung C&T, CapitaLand and Lendlease.

The company is reportedly seeing growing demand for its services as the industry increasingly recognises the importance of digitalisation. 

Looking ahead, Novade wants to expand its footprint in APAC by first tackling top developers in APAC before moving down the value chain to acquire SME clients. But how efficient is this strategy for the firm financially? 

It also set its sights in Africa to tap the continent’s rapid urbanisation, especially in Ghana, Ivory Coast and South Africa – but what are the opportunities exactly? 

On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Denis Branthonne, CEO and Co-Founder, Novade.

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Singapore stocks opened weaker today as index counters started the morning mostly in negative territory.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) headed down 0.3 per cent to 3,229.79 points after 39.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. 

In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Dasin Retail Trust, after the trust  received a notice declaring that an event of default has occurred under its onshore syndicated term loan facility of up to 400 million yuan (S$74.6 million).

Meanwhile, from more on Country Garden to the Reserve Bank of Australia holding rates steady - more international headlines remain in focus.

On Market View, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked these developments with Eddy Loh, Chief Investment Officer, Maybank Group Wealth Management.

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Acquiring talent in the fast growing consumer market of ASEAN – that’s what we are going to talk about in this segment today. 

With over 5,100 branches across 60 countries around the world, our guest is leading workforce solutions company Adecco. 

The Switzerland-based firm provides a comprehensive range of workforce solutions and consulting services which includes junior to mid-level talent acquisition, temporary staffing, outsourcing, as well as jobs training and reskilling.

The Fortune 500 company connects over 700,000 people with job opportunities that make the most out of their skills every given day. 

Closer to home, Adecco has a strong presence in major markets within the ASEAN region, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Take Singapore for instance, the Fortune 500 company established its presence in 1985 and currently helps over 1,400 people in new careers each year. 

With ASEAN as a trade bloc being one of the top 5 economies in the world, what will this mean in terms of staffing needs and what growth opportunities does this present for Adecco? 

How is the firm upskilling workers to navigate structural changes in major ASEAN economies? And how do such structural changes increase the value of a recruitment firm like Adecco? 

On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter posed these questions to Betul Genc, SVP and Head of ASEAN, Adecco.

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Singapore shares began trading in the green as traders returned from a holiday-shortened week.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent to 3,239.56 points after 139.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market.

In terms of companies to watch for today, we have  City Developments Limited. That’s after the property developer announced on Thursday that it had acquired a hotel in Osaka, Japan, for 8.5 billion yen (S$78.5 million). 

Meanwhile, from Keppel Reit replacing Olam Group on the STI reserve list at the start of business on the 18th of September, to a Goldilocks scenario in the US and Chinese stocks in Hong Kong jumping on further property support measures – more corporate and international headlines remain in focus.

On Market View, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked these developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

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You might have used Fitbit in your daily exercise routines. But did you know factory machines use an equivalent of Fitbit too? In fact, we’re going to talk to a company that offers “Fitbit-for-machines” services using the Internet of Things.

In layman terms, the firm offers a scalable digital factory system comprising of hardware equipment that tracks the steps or output, the heart rate or the temperature and mixing speed, as well as the sleeping pattern or the idling time of a machine. 

Data collected by the equipment will be automatically analysed with a software to provide factory owners a broad overview of what’s happening on the factory floor and if there are any problems with factory equipment that needs to be solved.  

The solutions can be deployed within a matter of days and can help clients achieve up to 10 to 30 per cent gain in productivity, energy or maintenance. 

But how does this work exactly, and how does Auk Industries differ from other IoT solutions providers? 

Meanwhile, Auk Industries says it serves a wide range of clients ranging from a small Nonya confectionery shop in Bedok to large Fortune 500 companies.

Question is – what is it about Auk Industries’ proposition that allow it to cater to the needs of clients with operations that seem vastly different? 

On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Samuel Tan, CEO & Cofounder, Auk Industries for more.

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Singapore stocks began trading stronger today after global markets ended mixed overnight.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.2 per cent to 3,225.89 points after 45.5 million securities changed hands in the broader market.

In terms of companies to watch, we have Olam Group, after it secured a US$1.75 billion multi-tranche sustainability-linked facility through its wholly-owned food ingredients unit OFI. 

Meanwhile, from UBS set to absorb Credit Suisse’s domestic bank to news that millions of dollars were reportedly invested in some publicly traded stocks of India’s Adani Group via “opaque” Mauritius funds, and the expectations for the latest US PCE index, more international headlines remain in focus. 

On Market View, the Drive Time team unpacked these developments with David Chow, Director Azure Capital.

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Today we’re going to bring you an inside look into a private equity real estate firm that connects real estate to capital markets. 

Founded in 2016, Q Investment Partners or QIP is a Singapore-based PE real estate firm that raises funds from institutional investors to buy, develop and sell buildings to generate investment returns.

The firm currently manages and executes around US$400 million of investment value, and has some US$1.2 billion worth of real estate investments managed to date. 

Its fund level internal rate of return stands at between 13 and 20 per cent. But how does this differ from the industry? What does the firm look out for when evaluating a potential project and deal, and what is its competitive advantage against other players? 

Meanwhile, QIP has 15 properties under its belt, with almost all located within Japan and the UK. But why is this the case and what’s next for the company? 

Also – how has China’s move to open its property market to PE investors and funds affected industry players? 

On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Alexander Bellingham, Director and Head of Sales, QIP.

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Singapore stocks started the day on a positive note following overnight gains in the US and Europe markets.

In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.4 per cent to 3,236.52 points after 60.3 million securities changed hands in the broader market.

In terms of companies to watch today, we have GuocoLand after the real estate group posted yesterday a 54.5 per cent decline in net profit to S$148 million for the second half-year ended June. 

Elsewhere, from Country Garden issuing HK$270 million of shares to pay loans, to the investability of China as well as the outlook on the safe haven gold, more international headlines remain in focus.

On Market View,  Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Jeremy Tan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tiger Fund Management for more. 

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Do you remember the time when you had to scan a QR code to check into malls and to dine in at restaurants? 

Well, today we’re going to talk to the company behind the Tracetogether token that has been a huge part of our lives during the pandemic. 

Incorporated all the way back in 1999, TraceTogerther maker iWOW is an Internet of Things solutions provider. 

Its name stands for Inspiring the World of Wireless, and the firm specialises not only in smart tracking but also in automated meter tracking and the monitoring of utility usage. 

iWOW also serves a diverse range of clients, working with the PUB, Jurong Port, Singtel, to even the SMRT, 3M, Coca Cola and Nestle. 

So what is next for the firm with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the “standing down” of the use of Tracetogether? 

On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian sat down with Raymond Bo, Founder and CEO, iWOW Technology for more. 

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