Market View: Oil, AI & the Long Game - From Venezuela to Vegas

As 2026 begins, Money and Me takes a moment of introspection - looking not just at how much you made, but how you spent. What did money add to your life in 2025 - and what quietly drained your peace, health, or joy? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend, who introduces a powerful reframing: Return on Spending, not just Return on Investing. From a $10,000 wedding anniversary to resisting ego-driven purchases, Christopher shares how values - not status - guided his big financial decisions. The conversation explores how spending today shapes the future story of our health, ageing, and relationships. Listeners are invited to do a simple year-end money audit - no spreadsheets required - before setting their goals for the year ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Tammi 20min

Defense stocks swing sharply as US President Donald Trump pivots from threatening dividends to floating a staggering US$1.5 trillion military budget. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode unpacks why names like Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies and AeroVironment surged - and what it says about policy-driven markets. We also look to Europe, where defense stocks extend a four-day rally as geopolitical tensions reshape spending priorities. In Asia, Hong Kong gets a boost as China-backed tech champions debut, led by AI firm Zhipu AI alongside chip and robotics players. UP or DOWN tackles movers including CrowdStrike and Fast Retailing, while Singapore stocks pause near record highs. And finally, from AI fridges to strange CES gadgets, we ask whether tech innovation is getting smarter - or just louder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Tammi 24min

As the China growth narrative fades, attention is shifting from the New Economy to an overlooked source of income: high-dividend state-owned enterprises. Raymond Cheng explains why China’s energy and infrastructure giants have delivered strong returns even as oil prices fell. We explore how Beijing’s policy reset has effectively programmed state firms to return more cash to shareholders. Why Hong Kong-listed H-shares may offer higher yields than identical A-shares in Shanghai — and why that matters now. Plus, what Southbound Connect flows, falling bank rates, and balance-sheet quality tell cautious investors about China’s role in a diversified portfolio. Hosted by Michelle Martin with guest Raymond Cheng, Chief Investment Officer for North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank’s Wealth Solutions unit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Tammi 15min

Samsung’s blockbuster profits put South Korea’s market back in the global spotlight, as investors ask whether the AI-driven rally still has legs. We play UP or DOWN on defence contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman after President Donald Trump targets dividends and buybacks. Alphabet overtakes Apple in market value for the first time since 2019 - is Big Tech leadership shifting for good?Meanwhile, deal drama surrounds Paramount Global, while Serve Robotics jumps into focus after praise from Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. We check in from CES 2026 in Las Vegas to separate investor signal from gadget noise. Plus, brokers turn bullish on Micron Technology and lithium producer Albemarle, as Singapore stocks push deeper into record territory - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Tammi 23min

When prices barely move after big news, that’s often the loudest signal of all. Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chip debut at CES promises cheaper, faster, lower-power AI - yet the stock barely flinched, raising questions for both traders and long-term investors. Michelle Martin unpacks what muted price action really means when expectations are crowded and positioning is full. Geopolitical shock from Venezuela has sent gold and silver surging - what does seasoned investor Simon Ree, founder of the Tao of Trading think of the possibilities ahead; follow-through, or a fade? From memory-chip spillovers to crowded AI trades, explore markets with Michelle and Simon in this conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Tammi 16min

A single chip may have just changed the economics of artificial intelligence. From CES in Las Vegas, Nvidia unveils its Vera Rubin AI chip - promising faster computing at a fraction of today’s power and cost. Michelle Martin breaks down what cheaper AI means for data centres, electricity demand and capital budgets. The ripple effects spread across global chipmakers as memory shortages drive rallies in Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Markets hit fresh records, Shake Shack gets a World Cup twist, and Singapore stocks surge on a softer US dollar. All that and more, hosted by Michelle Martin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Tammi 20min

He was told borrowing could boost his retirement - instead it wiped out his peace of mind. A real-life Singapore case shows how a retiree lost a large portion of his savings after taking loans to buy complex insurance-linked investments. In this episode, we unpack why borrowing to invest is especially dangerous once your paycheque stops. We break down the red flags hidden in structured products, leverage, and “projected returns” that sound reassuring but aren’t guaranteed. You’ll learn what questions retirees - and their adult children - must ask before signing anything involving debt. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this Money and Me episode helps you protect retirement capital by understanding what not to do before it’s too late.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Tammi 24min