At the midpoint of 2026, a fragile US-Iran ceasefire has broken down while an AI-fuelled memory chip boom has sent Korea's Kospi up 77%, and central banks are growing more cautious as inflation proves sticky. Harmander Mahal from Standard Chartered joins us to unpack what it all means for portfolios, from equities and bonds to gold and cash.

At the midpoint of 2026, a fragile US-Iran ceasefire has broken down while an AI-fuelled memory chip boom has sent Korea's Kospi up 77%, and central banks are growing more cautious as inflation proves sticky. Harmander Mahal from Standard Chartered joins us to unpack what it all means for portfolios, from equities and bonds to gold and cash.

Sharper and stronger than a double espresso. The Morning Run stretches your mind and braces you for the business day. It's your fast track into work where you can hit the ground running. From 6am to 10am weekdays, the Morning Run brings you the biggest stories and must-listen-to interviews. Stay enlightened, make educated business and investment decisions.

Ringgit and Sense

We explore financial themes and help you make sense of the world of finance. From setting financial goals, managing finances, investing and understanding the various issues that affect our wallets. Ringgit and Sense wants to help you understand personal risk profiles, realistic investment horizons, retirement planning, managing education loans and health insurance plans, as well as breaking down the various personal finance products that are available.

Ringgit & Sense

Investing in an Uncertain 2H2026

As new iPhones hit stores tomorrow, it’s clear that smartphones are getting more expensive. So how should we navigate this as buyers? Alexander Wong, Managing Editor of SoyaCincau, joins Ringgit and Sense to unpack what your money actually buys across today's higher price tiers and where he believes the pricing sweet spot is.

As expected, Apple unveiled its latest hardware lineup last week, featuring the much-anticipated iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while a base-model iPhone 18 was notably absent. Pricing has quickly become a primary talking point, with Apple effectively raising the floor price across its lineup. The new iPhone 18 Pro series sees price increases over the previous generation, while the iPhone 17 remains in the lineup at the higher RM4,299 price point rather than receiving a traditional price drop. Driven by global AI demand, an escalating memory shortage, dubbed "Ramageddon", is pushing up smartphone prices across budget, mid-range, and flagship tiers.

Alex evaluates whether ultra-premium foldables like the iPhone Duo justify their price tags, reveals what he believes is the new smartphone sweet spot, and breaks down how memory supply shifts are impacting mid-tier models. Plus, get practical strategies to stretch your tech budget, from trade-ins and certified refurbished devices to protection plans.

As new iPhones hit stores tomorrow, it’s clear that smartphones are getting more expensive. So how should we navigate this as buyers? Alexander Wong, Managing Editor of SoyaCincau, joins Ringgit and Sense to unpack what your money actually buys across today's higher price tiers and where he believes the pricing sweet spot is.As expected, Apple unveiled its latest hardware lineup last week, featuring the much-anticipated iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while a base-model iPhone 18 was notably absent. Pricing has quickly become a primary talking point, with Apple effectively raising the floor price across its lineup. The new iPhone 18 Pro series sees price increases over the previous generation, while the iPhone 17 remains in the lineup at the higher RM4,299 price point rather than receiving a traditional price drop. Driven by global AI demand, an escalating memory shortage, dubbed "Ramageddon", is pushing up smartphone prices across budget, mid-range, and flagship tiers.Alex evaluates whether ultra-premium foldables like the iPhone Duo justify their price tags, reveals what he believes is the new smartphone sweet spot, and breaks down how memory supply shifts are impacting mid-tier models. Plus, get practical strategies to stretch your tech budget, from trade-ins and certified refurbished devices to protection plans.

New iPhones, Price Hikes: Is Upgrading Actually Worth It?

With Apple’s latest iPhones pushing prices higher than ever, are monthly subscriptions and leasing plans the answer instead of paying cash upfront? Idham Idris, Director of Corporate Treasury Investment Services and Licensed Financial Planner at Wealth Vantage Advisory, joins Ringgit and Sense to break down how much it really costs when we spread out the payment of a smartphone.

Are these "phone-as-a-service" options good, bad, or complicated?

Idham unpacks how monthly pricing can trick our brains into overspending, and why financing options potentially trap us in perpetual upgrade cycles. He also breaks down what to watch for in telco bundles, how to set practical budget guardrails, and where to redirect your money once a phone is finally paid off.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

With Apple’s latest iPhones pushing prices higher than ever, are monthly subscriptions and leasing plans the answer instead of paying cash upfront? Idham Idris, Director of Corporate Treasury Investment Services and Licensed Financial Planner at Wealth Vantage Advisory, joins Ringgit and Sense to break down how much it really costs when we spread out the payment of a smartphone.Are these "phone-as-a-service" options good, bad, or complicated?Idham unpacks how monthly pricing can trick our brains into overspending, and why financing options potentially trap us in perpetual upgrade cycles. He also breaks down what to watch for in telco bundles, how to set practical budget guardrails, and where to redirect your money once a phone is finally paid off. Image Credit: Shutterstock

iPhones Are Expensive. Should You Subscribe Instead?

With trillions passing to heirs globally, preparing successors involves far more than transferring financial balances. 

Lim Eng Ping, Maybank’s Head of Wealth Management Malaysia, and Abdul Halim Abdul Rashid, Maybank’s Head of Islamic Wealth Management Malaysia, join BFM’s Ringgit and Sense to discuss how families can successfully navigate intergenerational succession.

They unpack why instilling financial discipline, business values, and stewardship early in children is essential to long-term wealth preservation. They also detail how values-aligned Shariah-compliant solutions, including Hibah, trusts, and Zakat planning, protect family-owned businesses, align values with wealth, and prevent bitter estate disputes before life events make planning urgent.

With trillions passing to heirs globally, preparing successors involves far more than transferring financial balances. Lim Eng Ping, Maybank’s Head of Wealth Management Malaysia, and Abdul Halim Abdul Rashid, Maybank’s Head of Islamic Wealth Management Malaysia, join BFM’s Ringgit and Sense to discuss how families can successfully navigate intergenerational succession.They unpack why instilling financial discipline, business values, and stewardship early in children is essential to long-term wealth preservation. They also detail how values-aligned Shariah-compliant solutions, including Hibah, trusts, and Zakat planning, protect family-owned businesses, align values with wealth, and prevent bitter estate disputes before life events make planning urgent.

Investing in an Uncertain 2H2026

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