The number of families receiving ComCare’s Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) fell to a five-year low in 2024, reflecting improvements in the economy, the job market, and other government support programs.

And while short-term financial aid helps families meet their basic needs, nearly half of households who left SMTA in 2021 returned for assistance within three years, highlighting ongoing financial challenges.

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nathan Peng, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Singapore Management University (SMU), to discuss the drop in SMTA recipients and how government programs are supporting lower-income families in both the short and long term.

The number of families receiving ComCare&rsquo;s Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) fell to a five-year low in 2024, reflecting improvements in the economy, the job market, and other government support programs.
And while short-term financial aid helps families meet their basic needs, nearly half of households who left SMTA in 2021 returned for assistance within three years, highlighting ongoing financial challenges.
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nathan Peng, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Singapore Management University (SMU), to discuss the drop in SMTA recipients and how government programs are supporting lower-income families in both the short and long term.

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)

The Big Story: ComCare’s numbers dropped - Are families now really better off?

Travelling to China just got a digital upgrade. Singaporeans can now use China’s e-CNY, the digital renminbi, through a new pilot program that lets travellers top up digital wallets directly from their Singapore bank accounts.

But what does this mean beyond convenience? Is it simply another payment option, or part of a larger plan to expand China’s currency influence globally?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr. Ernie Teo, Senior Lecturer, and Program Director for the Bachelor of Applied Computing in Finance, Nanyang Technological University to unpack the rise of the e-CNY for tourists and explore its broader implications for digital payments and state-backed currencies.

Travelling to China just got a digital upgrade. Singaporeans can now use China&rsquo;s e-CNY, the digital renminbi, through a new pilot program that lets travellers top up digital wallets directly from their Singapore bank accounts.
But what does this mean beyond convenience? Is it simply another payment option, or part of a larger plan to expand China&rsquo;s currency influence globally?
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr. Ernie Teo, Senior Lecturer, and Program Director for the Bachelor of Applied Computing in Finance, Nanyang Technological University to unpack the rise of the e-CNY for tourists and explore its broader implications for digital payments and state-backed currencies.

The Big Story: Is China’s digital yuan a new tourist tool or a financial power move? 

For the first time, a tokenized fund will be open to the public, thanks to MAS approval for a collaboration between Franklin Templeton and DBS. Could this be the start of a whole new way to invest, diversify, and engage with the market.

On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jason Jiang, CBO at CertiK, to find out more.

For the first time, a tokenized fund will be open to the public, thanks to MAS approval for a collaboration between Franklin Templeton and DBS. Could this be the start of a whole new way to invest, diversify, and engage with the market.
On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Jason Jiang, CBO at CertiK, to find out more.

Wealth Tracker: What should investors take note as tokenized funds go retail in Singapore

It’s now time for a Special, year-end edition of Market View, where we not only take you though how the Singapore stock market closed for the day, but also step back to examine three key themes that have shaped markets over the year, and will continue to matter as we head into 2026.

The three themes are: First, whether the global AI boom can move beyond hype and experimentation into a phase of real productivity gains and earnings delivery. 

Second, uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate trajectory and whether we’re truly approaching a more balanced phase of growth, inflation and policy.

And finally, China’s economic transition and whether domestic consumption can meaningfully offset weaker property investment and export headwinds amid ongoing global trade tensions. 

On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital and Olivia Ding, Investment Analyst, Reed Capital Partners. 

 

It&rsquo;s now time for a Special, year-end edition of Market View, where we not only take you though how the Singapore stock market closed for the day, but also step back to examine three key themes that have shaped markets over the year, and will continue to matter as we head into 2026.
The three themes are: First, whether the global AI boom can move beyond hype and experimentation into a phase of real productivity gains and earnings delivery.&nbsp;
Second, uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve&rsquo;s interest rate trajectory and whether we&rsquo;re truly approaching a more balanced phase of growth, inflation and policy.
And finally, China&rsquo;s economic transition and whether domestic consumption can meaningfully offset weaker property investment and export headwinds amid ongoing global trade tensions.&nbsp;
On Market View, Money Matters&rsquo; finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital and Olivia Ding, Investment Analyst, Reed Capital Partners.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Market View: (SPECIALS) The AI boom, US Fed rate uncertainty and China’s economic transition away from property and heavy investment – the three themes weighing on investors in 2025

The Big Story: ComCare’s numbers dropped - Are families now really better off?

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