MONEY FM 89.3 - Your Money With Michelle Martin

The Fed has raised rates, but markets are rallying as oil prices and bond yields ease. Could the rate hike also provide a much-needed boost to Singapore banks — and why might UOB emerge as a bigger beneficiary? On Market View, Michelle Martin examines what the changing rate environment means for Singapore banking stocks and whether Wall Street's best day in six weeks has legs. Then it's UP or DOWN: Jensen Huang says Nvidia could sell twice as many chips next year — can the stock keep delivering? Is Zscaler an overlooked cybersecurity opportunity? And could relaxed rules for conservation shophouses unlock new value at Boat Quay? Plus, Pokémon turns 30. Michelle looks at how Pikachu and friends became a multibillion-dollar nostalgia machine — and why Pokémon cards are still attracting serious money three decades later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human beings can split the atom, engineer artificial intelligence and peer billions of years into the history of the cosmos. But has our wisdom kept pace with our capabilities? In Eleven Seconds Before Midnight: Humanity, the Cosmos, and the Species We Must Become, Dr. Farshad Shishehchian argues that humanity needs to look beyond the divisions of nationality, culture and ideology and learn to cooperate as a species. The book places our brief existence against the vast scale of a 13.8-billion-year-old universe, while exploring threats ranging from AI and climate change to pandemics and nuclear weapons. What can the cosmos teach us about being human? Why, despite extraordinary scientific progress, do tribal divisions remain so powerful? And can curiosity, open-mindedness and global cooperation help close the gap between what humanity can do and what it is wise enough to do? Michelle Martin speaks with Dr. Farshad Shishehchian, CEO of Blue Aqua International and author of Eleven Seconds Before Midnight: Humanity, the Cosmos, and the Species We Must Become.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A polished presentation, an impressive property and the promise of an 8%, 10% or even 15% return — but do you actually know what you're buying and where those returns are coming from? Recent investment controversies involving Singaporeans are a reminder that a real property or business can sit behind an investment and still leave investors nursing substantial losses. So what questions should you ask before transferring a single dollar? Michelle Martin speaks with Daniel Sim, Founder of Golden Goose Properties, about why even sophisticated investors can get caught, the warning signs to watch for and the five questions he believes every investor should ask before committing their money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S-REITs have raised at least S$4.5 billion in equity funding this year, while average distribution yields of around 6.2% continue to tempt income investors. But after years of weak capital performance, are investors still being paid to wait—or overlooking deteriorating assets and balance sheets? Michelle Martin speaks with Kenny Loh, REIT Specialist and Wealth Advisory Director, about where he would average down, which headline yields may be value traps, whether banks and bonds now offer better income, and if data-centre REITs provide genuine exposure to the AI boom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Martin unpacks Kevin Warsh’s first Federal Reserve rate hike and Donald Trump’s response, before examining what it could mean for the yen, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England. Also in focus: why Lumentum and Coherent led the S&P 500, Amazon’s Generac deal, Anthropic’s Singapore expansion and Salesforce’s US$63 billion target. Plus, Boeing’s 737 Max delays, Metrocon’s Catalist debut and ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming overtaking Gautam Adani as Asia’s richest person.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than nine in ten respondents to the Caregiving Welfare Association’s ongoing survey have experienced—or expect to experience—caregiver overwhelm. Yet guilt, family expectations and the fear that nobody else can provide the same care often stop caregivers from taking a break. Michelle Martin speaks with Steven Yeo, Executive Director of the Caregiving Welfare Association, about recognising burnout, balancing employment with caregiving, preparing someone else to step in and making respite a normal, planned part of care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab makes a US$1.5 billion bet on Atome, while Nvidia’s Jensen Huang pushes back against calls to slow AI development. Michelle Martin unpacks what it means for investors, plus the pressure from US$100-plus oil and rising bond yields, a setback for crypto stocks, record oil-shipping costs and Metrocon’s market debut. And in the Last Word: Apple’s next wave of products.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Healthcare decisions are made for patients — but how often are they made with them? Michelle Martin speaks with Ann Single, CEO of the Patient Voice Initiative and President of HTAi, about what meaningful patient involvement looks like, whether it can lead to better healthcare decisions, and what Singapore can do to put patient voices at the heart of its healthcare system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is one of the market’s biggest investment narratives starting to shift? Michelle Martin speaks with Alvin Chow, Co-founder of Dr Wealth, about calls to slow frontier AI development, the surge in cybersecurity stocks and where the next AI winners could emerge. They also unpack the Fed’s rate decision, inflation and oil risks, before putting McDonald’s and Tencent under the spotlight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could the next big AI trade be protecting us from AI itself? Michelle Martin looks at the surge in CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks as cybersecurity stocks emerge as beneficiaries of growing fears over increasingly powerful AI. Then, JPMorgan makes a bullish call on IREN as the former Bitcoin miner reinvents itself as an AI data-centre player. Plus, what oil above US$100 and rising bond yields mean ahead of the Fed; why ByteDance and a US tungsten producer are up; Bank of America slides; and could S-REITs finally offer investors an “oasis of calm”? And in the Last Word: BTS agency BigHit Music is coming to Singapore in search of its next male K-pop star.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Nvidia just one slice of a much bigger AI investment story? CEO Jensen Huang describes artificial intelligence as a five-layer cake: energy, chips, infrastructure, models and applications. Michelle Martin speaks with Brandon Ho, CFA, Head of Investment Advisory Singapore, to unpack where companies including Constellation Energy, TSMC, Broadcom, Micron, Microsoft, Alphabet, Palantir and ServiceNow fit within the stack. Which layers are already translating AI demand into revenues and profits? Where are valuations relying heavily on future expectations? And can spreading investments across the five layers really diversify AI exposure — or are they ultimately all riding the same spending boom?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s rise is often described as an economic miracle. But was it really a miracle —what is the secret to Singapore's economic success? Michelle Martin speaks with Keen Meng Choy, professor of economics and economic history and co-author of The Economic History of Singapore, the first comprehensive economic history of Singapore stretching back to the 14th century. Which competitive advantages have endured, and can they survive deglobalisation, geopolitical rivalry, AI and an ageing population? From the sectors that could drive Singapore’s next reinvention to the risks investors may be underestimating, discover what 700 years of history can tell us about where Singapore creates wealth next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could artificial intelligence become too powerful to control? Michelle Martin examines warnings from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and the growing debate in Washington over whether AI development needs stronger safeguards. Then, Bank of America sees a potential US$30 billion opportunity for Marvell as AI infrastructure expands, while escalating Middle East tensions push oil above US$100 a barrel. Plus, what investors should watch from the Fed and Bank of Japan this week, and why Dell, Chinese healthcare, Keppel and UOB are up - while Singtel is down. Finally, Practical Magic 2 casts a spell over the North American box office. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can breathing pure oxygen under pressure help us heal — or even age better? Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Gerard Ee, Founder and Medical Director of The Clifford Clinic, to unpack the science behind hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). They explore what actually happens inside a hyperbaric chamber, the medical conditions HBOT is used to treat, and what the evidence says about claims around longevity, recovery and maintaining physical ability. Dr Ee also explains the crucial differences between medical hyperbaric chambers and the soft-shell “oxygen pods” appearing in wellness studios, the risks consumers should know about, and the questions to ask before paying for a session. Plus: the health and fitness measurements that may tell us more about how well we’re ageing — and one practical thing we can do now to live well for longer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re living overseas for a few weeks or months, what’s the smartest way to pay without carrying a wallet full of cards — or wiping out the value of your miles with foreign-currency fees? Michelle Martin speaks with Tim Phillips, Founder of TimTalksMoney, about building a simple two- or three-card strategy for spending abroad. They unpack when 4-miles-per-dollar cards really deliver, the spending caps to watch, and when a multi-currency card may actually leave you better off. From flights and accommodation to groceries, transport, rent and ATM withdrawals, find out which card to reach for — and why you should almost always choose local currency when a merchant offers to charge you in Singapore dollars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are consumers falling out of love with Lululemon’s famous leggings? Shares plunged after disappointing earnings and a weaker outlook - but the bigger question is whether fashion itself has moved on. Meanwhile, DBS analysts see a stronger yield opportunity in S-REITs than Singapore bank dividends. What has changed in the income equation? Michelle Martin also looks at what falling US bond yields mean for tech stocks before playing Up or Down on Nvidia’s US$12.9 billion Hugging Face acquisition, SpaceX’s return to the US$2 trillion club and Volkswagen’s plan to cut 50,000 jobs. Plus, why is the Dutch central bank moving part of its gold reserves away from the US - and does it tell us anything about changing perceptions of geopolitical risk?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if we managed our health the way we manage our money - investing early, tracking risk and thinking about long-term returns? Functional nutritionist Jieun Wrigley of Rapid Nutrition Therapy says preventive-minded individuals are moving beyond conventional annual health screenings towards more detailed biomarkers, biological-age profiling and inflammation tracking. But which tests are genuinely useful, and which belong to the increasingly crowded world of wellness hype? On Live Well with Michelle, Jieun joins Michelle Martin to explore the idea of health as “biological capital”: what newer health panels can reveal, where she believes conventional screening may fall short, and how nutrition fits into a proactive approach to longevity. And for the busy, burnt-out professional who doesn't have hours a day to optimise their health, what actually moves the needle?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s housing market could be entering a new phase. The BTO household income ceiling is rising to S$16,000, while the Executive Condominium ceiling moves to S$18,000 - potentially widening the pool of households eligible for public and subsidised housing. At the same time, thousands of new BTO flats are coming onto the market, with a growing number of HDB flats reaching their Minimum Occupation Period in the years ahead. Could more supply finally shift some bargaining power back to buyers? And should someone planning to buy over the next year or two move now - or wait? Looking further ahead, could Long Island eventually do for the East Coast what reclamation once did for Marine Parade? Michelle Martin speaks with Ivan Cai, Chairman of Crestbrick, about whether Singapore’s housing ladder is being reshaped, where demand could intensify, what greater supply could mean for resale and private property prices, and the decisions prospective home buyers should be thinking about now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Singapore still the world’s busiest port - or does it depend on what you’re measuring? Michelle Martin looks at Singapore’s place in global shipping as Ningbo-Zhoushan overtakes it on container volumes. Then, could financing become the next constraint on the AI boom? Barclays warns Asian banks may be reaching their lending limits on data centres, even as Singapore-based firms dominate regional fundraising. Plus, why Nvidia is putting US$3.5 billion into MediaTek, why analysts see Dell benefiting from both Nvidia and SpaceX, and what rising oil prices mean as Wall Street enters its historically difficult month of September. In Up or Down: Amazon, Microsoft and OpenAI, Victoria Beckham Holdings, Mapletree Industrial Trust and Frasers Property.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two people with the same cancer diagnosis might actually need completely different treatments. Here is where digital diagnostics can make a difference. Michelle Martin speaks with Arun Krishna, Area Vice President, Asia at AstraZeneca, about why diagnostic gaps remain a major challenge across the region and where AI can step in. On Live Well with Michelle, listen for a fascinating discussion on how digital diagnostics could reshape the future of healthcare in this part of the worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For much of 2026, investors have been waiting for US interest rates to fall. After Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish Jackson Hole debut, should they be preparing for another hike instead? Michelle Martin speaks with Simon Ree, Founder of Tao of Trading, about what Warsh’s inflation-first message could mean for the Fed’s next move, why Christopher Waller could provide the next important signal, and where a renewed higher-rate environment could hit Treasuries, the US dollar, equities and the Singapore dollar. Plus, why does Simon like the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), what are the risks, and why might Singapore investors consider the Ireland-domiciled IUHC instead?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Musk-Altman rivalry takes another turn as OpenAI moves to cut off its models from SpaceX-owned Cursor. Michelle Martin looks at what the clash could mean for competition in AI. Closer to home, ComfortDelGro lands a major Copenhagen Metro contract - could it give the stock a much-needed lift? Plus, CXMT reports booming sales, corn and wheat prices surge, GuocoLand’s profit tumbles and Petronas delivers stronger first-half numbers. And as Wall Street closes out a winning August, has Fed Chair Kevin Warsh just put a September rate hike firmly back on the table? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have high standards, a strong sense of right and wrong - and an inner critic that rarely takes the day off? You may recognise some traits of Enneagram Type 1, often called the Perfectionist. Michelle Martin speaks with Cindy Leong, Founder of The Enneagram Academy, about what really drives Type 1s, why their desire to improve things can sometimes sound like criticism, and what they need from the people closest to them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enter the moneyverse with Michelle and her guest who explains that there are invisible rules to the systems that generate and perpetuate wealth and economies we all need to understand. Why can you know how to budget, save and invest - and still struggle to get ahead? Michelle Martin speaks with Lionel Lee, author of Into the Moneyverse: The Real World of Money and Why Financial Literacy Alone Won’t Save You, about the difference between financial literacy and “money literacy”. Plus, how can you move from being a passive player in the "moneyverse" to Active Player 1? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia has done it again. A blowout earnings report sent its shares surging, adding some US$442 billion in market value in a single day. But as Nvidia grows ever more powerful, is its sheer size becoming a risk for the wider market? Michelle Martin looks at Nvidia’s extraordinary rally and what it says about confidence in the AI boom, before turning to Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s crucial Jackson Hole speech, why CrowdStrike is benefiting from the rise of AI-powered cyber threats, why Marvell fell despite raising its forecasts, what Seatrium and Petrobras could be planning for Asian natural-gas demand, and why Frencken wants to raise S$100 million. And finally: meet one of the more unexpected winners of the data-centre boom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erectile dysfunction is usually thought of as a sexual-health issue. But could it also offer an early clue about an upcoming heart attack? In this episode of Live Well with Michelle, Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Pinakin V Parekh, Founder and Medical Director of Trident Heart Centre and Senior Consultant in Preventive, General and Interventional Cardiology, about the important connection between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI has dominated markets, but could some of the more interesting long-term opportunities now lie elsewhere? Michelle Martin looks at two structural themes: healthcare innovation and the infrastructure required for global electrification with four names in focus. We also examine what separates a genuine megatrend from a compelling investment story, the risks of paying too much for long-term growth, and how investors can gain thematic exposure without simply replacing one concentrated trade with another. MIchelle speaks with Shanon Tang, Investment Specialist at PhillipCapital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much bigger can the AI boom get? Nvidia delivers another extraordinary quarter, with revenue hitting US$96.2 billion as Big Tech continues pouring money into AI infrastructure. But the bigger question is whether Nvidia’s customers will eventually earn enough from AI to justify that spending. Michelle Martin looks at why Meta’s US$18 billion child-safety settlement may actually come as a relief to investors, and what stubborn US inflation means for interest rates. Plus, why Salesforce, CrowdStrike and Okta are surging after hours; Jack Ma puts millions behind Alibaba’s AI bet; ST Engineering lands another major Taiwan rail contract; and a Singapore iron-ore trader comes under scrutiny. And in the Last Word: seven desk gadgets that might make your working day just a little better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Martin explores the emerging field of Creative Health with Assoc Prof Michael Tan, Dean of Research and Knowledge Exchange at NAFA, following the launch of NAFA’s new Centre for Creative Health. What does the science tell us about the relationship between creativity and physical and mental wellbeing? Could the arts help older adults remain socially connected, support people living with dementia, or even change how workplaces understand cancer survivors returning to work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonds are supposed to bring stability to a portfolio, so why have so many investors fallen out of love with them - and could that make them more interesting today? Michelle Martin speaks with Willie Keng, Founder of Dividend Titan (www.dividendtitan.com), about where bonds fit alongside dividend stocks. They also tackle one of investing’s hardest decisions: when to sell. How can you tell the difference between a temporarily beaten-down stock and a genuinely broken investment thesis? Then Willie puts his framework to work on McDonald’s. With its powerful franchise and property model, global expansion and long dividend history, could pressure on the consumer be creating an opportunity for long-term investors - or is the stock still too expensive?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a tiny Disney toy change where an entire family buys its groceries? Woolworths’ wildly popular Ooshies promotion has pulled shoppers away from rival Coles, offering a striking lesson in the power of collectables, scarcity and consumer psychology in Australia’s fiercely competitive supermarket sector. Michelle Martin also looks at what happens when brands get their customers badly wrong. Plus, falling oil prices bring some relief to US stock and bond markets, while two developments in China raise questions for investors. On Up or Down, what’s moving SpaceX, Lego, Apple, SingPost and Penguin International?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only 56% of employees surveyed by Qualtrics believe their leaders would choose people’s wellbeing over immediate profit. So what makes us trust a boss - and what happens when that trust disappears? Dr Ben Granger, Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics and two-time bestselling author of A Leader Worth Following, joins Michelle Martin to explore why trust matters more than ever in an age of AI Drawing on neuroscience, organisational psychology and evolutionary theory, they unpack the three questions we instinctively use to decide whether someone is trustworthy: Are they competent? Do they have integrity? And do they have my interests at heart?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle thinks this is going to be a huge bestseller in Singapore and around the world, and it is a book any investor should pick up. Thomas Chua achieved financial independence at 31 and argues that ordinary investors can build long-term wealth with a focused process that takes as little as an hour a day. Michelle Martin speaks with Thomas Chua, author of The Lunch Break Investor and founder and investor at Steady Compounding, about how to find companies capable of compounding wealth for years. What are the six economic moats that can give a business lasting competitive advantage? How can you tell if a stock is too expensive? Thomas explains his six-step “Lunch Break Valuation”, puts companies through his deceptively simple “Crayon Test”, and reveals the three circumstances that could persuade a long-term investor to finally sell.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US-Canada trade talks have collapsed, with Washington imposing 50 percent tariffs on around US$20 billion of Canadian goods and Ottawa preparing to retaliate. We look at why the dispute matters. Elsewhere, we look at a steelmaker Morgan Stanley sees more upside for. It is also a crucial week for markets, with Nvidia earnings PCE inflation and Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at Jackson Hole, a constellation that could reset expectations for interest rates. On Up or Down, Shein heads for a long-awaited Hong Kong IPO at a dramatically lower valuation, Alibaba slides after a US$10.2 billion share placement, and Tesla rallies on its latest robotaxi breakthrough. Plus, our last words today are Casino and Box Office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A charity drive, a donation, a day spent volunteering - doing good can feel good. But how do we know whether your company actually changed anything? Michelle Martin speaks with Lyn Sia Rosmarin, Founder and CEO of Pandan Initiative, about the difference between good intentions and measurable social impact. They also explore Lyn's own journey from banking and entrepreneurship to a search for greater purpose, her ambition to help 50 Singapore companies prove their social impact by 2030, and a bigger question for all of us: what does it mean to build a life - or a business - that leaves something meaningful behind?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Singaporeans are hitting their CPF retirement targets, but is having enough to retire the same as having enough for the retirement you actually want? Two very different visions of ageing are emerging in Singapore. Private assisted living can cost upwards of $8,000 a month, while demand for more affordable Community Care Apartments has been lacklustre. Michelle Martin speaks with Elijah Lee, Senior Financial Services Manager at Phillip Securities, about how to identify the gaps between CPF LIFE and the income you want, when planning for long-term care. They also examine a question many of us may be avoiding: where do you actually want to live as you age - and have you worked out what that life will cost?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding the right care for a loved one with dementia is not easy. When even nursing homes say no, where can families turn? Michelle Martin speaks with Amy, a daughter and family caregiver, and Chloe Lim, Founder of gentleHelp, about the realities families can face when a loved one needs more intensive dementia support. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walmart suffers its worst day in four years as slower sales growth and cautious guidance raise fresh questions about the strength of the US consumer. Michelle Martin examines why Scott Bessent’s efforts to tame long-term Treasury yields have yet to stick, and how the enormous borrowing needed to fund the AI boom could be adding pressure to global bond markets. Plus, what does Broadcom’s reported US$60 billion financing plan tell us about the next phase of AI investment? And in UP or DOWN: Alibaba’s profits plunge as AI spending surges, Ping An benefits from China’s stock-market rally, CNMC Goldmine heads for the SGX Mainboard, ComfortDelGro turns to BYD to expand its private-hire fleet, and Genting slips into the red despite higher revenue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Martin speaks with Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment at Providend, about what is driving the AI sell-off and the growing use of off-balance-sheet financing to fund the enormous data centres and infrastructure behind the AI boom. What risks should investors be watching? They also examine why long-term bond yields are rising in the US and Singapore, what higher yields mean for bond investors. Plus, with DBS, OCBC and UOB all reporting higher second-quarter profits, what do their latest results reveal - and after the strong run in Singapore bank shares, is there still value for investors?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A blockbuster US$28.6 billion SK Hynix share buyback sends the chipmaker higher - but what does it tell investors about confidence in the AI memory boom? On Market View, Michelle Martin examines why Chinese government bonds are emerging as an unlikely haven amid a global bond sell-off, and how the US-Iran conflict and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz are feeding into inflation and interest-rate risks. She also looks at US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's decision to double long-dated Treasury buybacks after the 30-year yield touched a 19-year high, and asks what the intervention tells us about stresses in the world's most important bond market. Plus, Moderna and Merck's personalised mRNA melanoma treatment delivers a landmark late-stage result, sending Moderna shares soaring and reviving the investment case for mRNA technology beyond Covid vaccines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CPF helps pay for some of life's biggest needs - from housing and healthcare to retirement. But could using too much CPF for your home today leave you with less tomorrow? Michelle Martin speaks with Brent Seah, Assistant Director, Outreach & Partnerships at CPF Board, about how to assess whether your retirement savings are on track, make better use of CPF throughout your working years, and balance home ownership with retirement adequacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our eyes change as we age, but when is deteriorating vision simply part of getting older - and when could it signal something more serious? Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Jessica Choo, surgeon and Associate Consultant at the Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department and Myopia Centre at SNEC, about the eye conditions Singaporeans should watch for across their lifetime Dr Choo also demystifies modern cataract surgery, including how the cloudy natural lens is replaced, the new artificial lens options available, and how even long sightedness can be surgically improved today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.