Hundreds of thousands of people faced train cancellations across Germany from Jan 10, as a three-day nationwide rail strike added to travel chaos in Europe’s largest economy, where farmers’ protests have blocked highways and snarled traffic.

The strikes and protests add to pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, which faces growing economic problems, including weak macroeconomic data, high interest rates and a budget mess.

Is Germany’s economy struggling in 2024 and can the government fix it?

Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific gives us his analysis. 

Hundreds of thousands of people faced train cancellations across Germany from Jan 10, as a three-day nationwide rail strike added to travel chaos in Europe’s largest economy, where <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/german-farmers-blockade-roads-to-protest-subsidy-cuts">farmers’ protests have blocked highways and snarled traffic.</a>
The strikes and protests add to pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, which faces growing economic problems, including weak macroeconomic data, high interest rates and a budget mess.
Is Germany’s economy struggling in 2024 and can the government fix it?
Cedomir Nestorovic, Professor of Geopolitics, ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific gives us his analysis.

Money Matters is your guide to navigating the day's most important topics, from politics and current affairs to wealth management and trending issues. Every evening, the team delivers insightful discussions on business news, market movements, and the latest in alternative assets. Whether navigating the political landscape, understanding the economy, or uncovering emerging investment opportunities, Money Matters keeps you informed and ahead of the curve. Tune in daily to Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian from 4 pm to 7 pm on MONEY FM 89.3.

Money Matters is your guide to navigating the day's most important topics, from politics and current affairs to wealth management and trending issues. Every evening, the team delivers insightful discussions on business news, market movements, and the latest in alternative assets. Whether navigating the political landscape, understanding the economy, or uncovering emerging investment opportunities, Money Matters keeps you informed and ahead of the curve. Tune in daily to Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian from 4 pm to 7 pm on MONEY FM 89.3.

Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.

In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore&rsquo;s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.
In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station.

MONEY FM 89.3

Your evening guide to the day's most important topics — navigate the key events in politics, business, markets, wealth management, and top investment opportunities. Keeps you informed and ahead of the curve, daily.

Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian (4pm - 7pm)

Euro Watch: Is Germany's economy struggling in 2024?

Air travel across the Middle East has been thrown into turmoil as escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran lead to widespread airspace restrictions, flight cancellations, and rerouting.

Thousands of passengers are being affected, including Singaporeans caught in the region, facing delays, uncertainty, and difficult decisions about when they can return home.

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong hears from Annabelle Siena Lim, a Singaporean entrepreneur currently in Dubai, about her experience navigating sudden flight disruptions and the challenges of rebooking amid rapidly changing schedules.

We also speak with William Huang, Vice President at Super Travel Groups and Outbound Committee Member at NATAS, on how Singapore travel agencies are supporting anxious customers and responding in real time to the crisis.

Finally, independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie from Sobie Aviation breaks down the broader impact on global aviation, including how Middle East airspace closures are affecting long-haul routes between Asia and Europe, potential fare increases, and how long the disruptions could last.

Air travel across the Middle East has been thrown into turmoil as escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran lead to widespread airspace restrictions, flight cancellations, and rerouting. Thousands of passengers are being affected, including Singaporeans caught in the region, facing delays, uncertainty, and difficult decisions about when they can return home.
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong hears from Annabelle Siena Lim, a Singaporean entrepreneur currently in Dubai, about her experience navigating sudden flight disruptions and the challenges of rebooking amid rapidly changing schedules.
We also speak with William Huang, Vice President at Super Travel Groups and Outbound Committee Member at NATAS, on how Singapore travel agencies are supporting anxious customers and responding in real time to the crisis.
Finally, independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie from Sobie Aviation breaks down the broader impact on global aviation, including how Middle East airspace closures are affecting long-haul routes between Asia and Europe, potential fare increases, and how long the disruptions could last.

The Big Story: Cancelled flights, stranded Singaporeans - Will the Middle East travel chaos worsen as the Iran conflict continues?

2025 tested investors with geopolitical uncertainty, shifting interest rate expectations, elections across major economies, and uneven global growth.

Yet despite the volatility, Asian assets demonstrated surprising resilience, with fixed income delivering strong gains and equities across parts of Asia staging a constructive recovery.

So what does this mean for 2026 and beyond?

On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Hock Fai Chan, Head of Equities, Singapore, Manulife Investment Management, to unpack the outlook for Asian equities, the key themes shaping portfolio positioning, and whether the region is at the start of a sustained multi-year opportunity.

2025 tested investors with geopolitical uncertainty, shifting interest rate expectations, elections across major economies, and uneven global growth. Yet despite the volatility, Asian assets demonstrated surprising resilience, with fixed income delivering strong gains and equities across parts of Asia staging a constructive recovery.
So what does this mean for 2026 and beyond?
On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Hock Fai Chan, Head of Equities, Singapore, Manulife Investment Management, to unpack the outlook for Asian equities, the key themes shaping portfolio positioning, and whether the region is at the start of a sustained multi-year opportunity.

Wealth Tracker: Could 2026 be a defining year for Asian equities?

Would you call your spouse your “teammate” instead of “baby”?

And would you believe that your old laptop might be a better investment than gold?

On today’s episode of What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into two unexpected trends shaking up the internet: married couples in China ditching lovey-dovey pet names in favour of practical titles like “teammate” or “roommate,” sparking debate over whether modern relationships are becoming more like partnerships than romance. And the surprising tech gold rush is happening at Sim Lim Square, where used laptops are being stripped for valuable RAM and SSD parts amid an AI-driven chip shortage that’s sending prices soaring.

Would you call your spouse your &ldquo;teammate&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;baby&rdquo;?
And would you believe that your old laptop might be a better investment than gold?
On today&rsquo;s episode of What&rsquo;s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Alexandra Parada dive into two unexpected trends shaking up the internet: married couples in China ditching lovey-dovey pet names in favour of practical titles like &ldquo;teammate&rdquo; or &ldquo;roommate,&rdquo; sparking debate over whether modern relationships are becoming more like partnerships than romance. And the surprising tech gold rush is happening at Sim Lim Square, where used laptops are being stripped for valuable RAM and SSD parts amid an AI-driven chip shortage that&rsquo;s sending prices soaring.

Euro Watch: Is Germany's economy struggling in 2024?

In 2 playlist(s)

Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian (4pm - 7pm)

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips