There is an emerging trend of innovative products being made to help boost food production without agriculture. For example, fat that is free from animal ingredients and artificial ingredients.

Using precision fermentation, Australian food tech company Nourish Ingredients, a pioneer in the emerging 'animal-free' speciality fat segment has produced the world's first animal-free fat that is derived from nature. It claims this will help to accelerate the future food system by solving the biggest issues in the plant protein market around taste, nutrition, and consumer adoption. With its recent Singapore expansion, Nourish Ingredients hopes to scale up the production of its breakthrough fat. 

Market intelligence research shows that the global precision fermentation ingredients market is projected to reach USD$38 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 43.5% during the forecast period of 2024–2031.

Ernest Vecilla, Head of Culinary Innovation, Nourish Ingredients shares more insights from the food tech industry.

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With the US election and Fed meeting on the horizon, there is a noticeable shift in investor sentiment across Asian markets. Key movements in currencies hint at regional resilience amid global uncertainties as the dollar weakened ahead of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election this week.

However, the Malaysian ringgit has seen its move to the upside halted, closing in October lower by 5.8 per cent against the US dollar, which is its biggest monthly drop in about eight years.

What can investors expect in the days ahead? 

Yeap Junrong, Market Strategist at trading platform IG, shares his insights. 

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Japan goes to the polls on October 27. In the US, Americans will vote on their next president in a couple of weeks. 

How will elections impact both the USD and the Japanese Yen? What is the effect on the Sing dollar against these major currencies?

Yeap Junrong, Market Strategist at IG, shares his insights. 

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The proliferation of video games and the development of the video game industry have seen competitive gaming as a form of spectator sport. eSports is experiencing rapid growth, despite still being in its relatively formative stages. At the current growth rate, by 2024, there are expected to be over 285 million frequent viewers of eSports worldwide, as well as some 291.6 million occasional viewers. In terms of revenue, the industry is expected to generate more than US$1.6 billion by 2024.  With so much attention and market share at stake, there are bound to be commercial and legal conflicts, especially when intellectual property (IP) is very much at the core of the video game and esports industry.

So, what do industry players need to know to ensure compliance and smooth operations and protect their brand identities, to navigate IP in esports?

Benjamin Cheong, Deputy Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications of national law firm Rajah & Tann, tells us more. 

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On Health Suites, Pain in the prostate gland has increasingly become one of the top health concerns in recent years as many men have suffered or are suffering from it. Some examples include prostate cancer, which is fatal and the third most common cancer among men in Singapore. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr Bernard Lee, CEO and Executive Director of Singapore Paincare Holdings Limited to find out how one can obtain an accurate diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Song Seng Wun, Economist, CIMB Private Banking to talk about Singapore's CPI results for May; Fed chair Jerome Powell's most explicit acknowledgment to date that steep interest-rate hikes could tip the US economy into recession; and whether that will lead to other Asian economies falling into a recession. 

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On Health Suites, back in March, Indonesia's 16th richest person, Ang Tjoen Ming, personally delivered a S$100,000 cheque to a 5-year-old Malaysian boy who was suffering from leukaemia in Singapore. And it was a story that touched the hearts of many. This story of a little boy’s fight against cancer had shed light into the long and arduous journey that is casted upon patients and their families. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr Francesca Lorraine Lim, Senior Consultant Haematologist at Singapore General Hospital to find out more about an alternative medical option for those fighting aggressive cancer called CAR-T therapy- a medical breakthrough and a first in Southeast Asia.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Asia at Mizuho Bank to talk about the growing concern that a US recession is imminent as Goldman Sachs economists double their expectations on the potential for a US recession over the next year to 30%; with focus on how this will affect Singapore and markets in the region; whether Philippines and Indonesia will raise their rates following the Fed interest rate hike; and more about why Asian currencies are falling further. 

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On Health Suites, in the past, the use of titanium implants had long been the norm. However, in the long term, these are prone to rejection by the body and can cause infection. Melissa Hyak speaks to Assistant Professor Vincent Nga, Consultant at the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery at NUH to find out more about 3D printed bone implants that are biodegradable and serve as a scaffold for new bone to grow.

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On Health Suites, over the last 3 years, bruxism has been on the rise in Singapore amidst the pandemic, with dentists seeing an influx of patients who grind their teeth. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr. Matt Thompson, Co-Founder and Clinical Director at expatdental to find out more about bruxism and how it can be treated.

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On Market View, Melissia Hyak is joined by Lionel Lin, Director of Research at SGX to discuss what to look ahead in markets for the week, with focus on STI's expected performance for the week; last week's series of interest rate hikes and its effect on regional markets; and how a US recession will impact Singapore and other regional areas. 

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On Soul of Business, the Courier, Express and Parcel industry is witnessing a pivotal moment right now. What they do today, their goals and the transformation objectives will decide how relevant and profitable they will be 10 years from now. Melissa Hyak speaks to Soham Chokshi, Co-Founder and CEO of Shipsy to find out how this industry can embrace a smart logistics management platform as a way forward.

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On Market View, Melissia Hyak is joined by Geoff Howie, Market Strategist at the SGX for a wrap on the week's markets with focus on US Fed's interest rate hike and its ripple effect on the central banks across the region; STI's performance this week; and Singapore's NODX results for May.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Alvin Liew, Senior Economist at UOB to discuss the latest interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve; with focus on what it means for the US economy; whether a recession in the US is imminent; whether other central banks in the region will follow suit; and the European Central Bank's plans to design a new bond-buying plan to tackle market turmoil. 

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The Mid-Autumn Festival, or mooncake festival, which is an occasion for families to get together and have a good time. Mooncakes are the quintessential symbol of this celebration. There are now more 'healthful' ones in the market like those from Singapore-based traditional chinese medicine company Eu Yan Sang.

Can indulgent mooncakes really promote health? Eu Yan Sang's Sharon Tan, Head of Marketing, and Davinna Peh, Assistant Manager, Gifting share about these sweet treats that are crafted with natural premium ingredients such as bird's nest, ginseng and ruby dates.

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On Health Suites… Could having noisy neighbours become a public health issue? Melissa Hyak speaks to Assistant Professor Fan Yi, Department of Real Estate, NUS Business School to look into a new study on urban noise, sleep disruption and health, which found that noise from one’s neighbours can have a significant impact 

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On Market View, Melissia Hyak is joined by Radhika Rao, Executive Director & Senior Economist at DBS Bank, Singapore to discuss the likelihood of a mounting economic recession, with focus on the Fed and other central banks, including the Bank of England and the European Central Bank forced to hike interest rates more aggressively; and what to expect for the annual core inflation rate in the Euro Area that will be released this Friday. 

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Duncan Tan, Interest Rates Strategist at DBS.to talk about rate decisions across the globe; with focus on US expected interest rate hike later this week; Japan's firm commitment to keeping rates low; and what to expect for China’s medium-term lending facility rate decision.

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On Health Suites, studies show that 36 per cent of patients with a severe form of leaky heart valve will die within one year of diagnosis if it is not treated. But many patients, who have a high risk of complications from surgical procedures, have to leave their condition largely untreated. Melissia Hyak speaks to Associate Professor Jack Tan, Head and Senior Consultant at the Department of Cardiology at National Heart Centre Singapore to talk about how patients with leaky heart valve have more minimally invasive options to treat the condition, with two new procedures introduced.

Highlights:

00:34 What is leaky heart valve? 
03:03 What constitutes as a severe condition? 
07:01 What are the new procedures that are minimally invasive?
09:13 What are the potential complications of those procedures?
11:27 Is there a possibility of younger people to have a leaky heart?

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Lionel Lin, Director of Research at SGX to talk about Friday's US inflation report; with focus on whether the Fed is expected to raise the fed funds rate by a half point on Wednesday and again next month; how such rate hikes will affect markets in the region; and how the STI is set to perform this week. 

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On Health Suites, for one in five Singaporeans above the age of 40, poor oral health has either affected his ability to chew, swallow or speak, or put him at risk of having chewing, swallowing or speech difficulties. Yet, most do not go for a follow-up. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr Chan Pei Yuan, Programme Lead of Oral Health Movement 8020 and Consultant at Department of Restorative Dentistry, Endodontics Unit at National Dental Centre Singapore to look into a pilot that screens for missing teeth and highlights the need for preventive oral care. 

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Geoff Howie, Market Strategist at the SGX to talk about the region's market performance for the week, with focus on Reserve Banks raising interest rates this week; European Central Bank signaling a higher interest rate hike in September; China's CPI results; and China reportedly weighing the revival of Jack Ma’s Ant IPO.

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On Health Suites, most Covid-19 patients who continue to suffer symptoms after recovering from the disease - a condition known as long Covid - will recover naturally with time. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr Menka Gupta, founder of NutraNourish to find out how to manage such post-Covid symptoms and how do we know we are totally clear of the virus. 

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific Chief Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence to discuss China's trade data in May; expectations for China's May CPI inflation results; and ECB's expected decision on its interest rate hike.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Asia at Mizuho Bank to discuss interest rate hikes, with focus on Australia's more-than-expected interest rate hike; Reserve Bank of India also raising its interest rate to 50 basis points; analysts cutting their Singapore 2022 growth forecast; and European Central Bank's expected rate hikes. 

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According to KPMG, 2024 has been a challenging one for fintech market globally driven by concerns like ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and high interest rate. As such, fintech investment globally has declined from $62.3 billion to $51.9 billion between the second half of 2023 and H1 this year—the lowest six months of fintech investment since 2020. Only five deals that are over $1 billion occurred in the fintech space during the first half of 2024—all buyouts. 

So is there any optimism in sight for the fintech market in Asia Pacific? Anton Ruddenklau, Global Head of Fintech and Innovation, Financial Services, KPMG International, shares more highlights from KPMG's Pulse of Fintech H1'24 report on Industry Insight. 

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On Health Suites, when we want to lose weight, most of us go to the gym or go out for a run to try and burn off some calories, especially if we had a big meal. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr Michael MacDonald, Senior Consultant Cardiologist from Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre to find out if exercise alone is enough for daily calorie burn.

Highlights:

00:41 - The 70-30 rule: How true is it? 

3:38 - Is it possible for those who frequently go to the gym to develop high cholesterol and high blood pressure? 

06:16 - What are the benefits of exercise?

07:43 - What are some tips of losing weight? 

12:43 - Why do those in the older age group have a harder time to lose weight? 

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On Soul of Business, ransomware has skyrocketed in Singapore by 154% in 2020 compared to 2019.  Hackers know that if they can exploit an organisation’s backups, businesses will have no choice but to pay the ransom. Melissa Hyak speaks to Calvin Hoon, Sales Vice President of Rubrik Asia to look at how businesses can cope with the increase in ransomware attacks.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak speaks to Lionel Lin, Director of Research at SGX to talk about STI's expected performance for this week as well as markets around the region, with focus on upcoming rate decisions for Reserve Bank of Australia and India and their impacts; oil prices; as well as what to expect for the rest of the week. 

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On Health Suites, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. With Singapore's rapidly ageing population, osteoarthritis has become a major cause of morbidity and disability here. Melissa Hyak speaks to Associate Professor Yen Choo, Principal Investigator of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Dr Derrick Guo Associate Consultant Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Woodlands Health to a closer look at this joint disorder and the latest efforts to come up with new treatments for patients.

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On Market View, Melissia Hyak speaks to Geoff Howie, Market Strategist at the SGX to talk about how markets did for the week; with focus on the STI; oil prices; OPEC+ meeting; and the euro zone inflation. 

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On Health Suites, while many are rejoicing over the easing of travel restrictions, those with atopic dermatitis may not be too excited at the prospect of travelling, especially those with moderate to severe forms of the disease. Melissa Hyak speaks to Dr Mark Tang, Consultant Dermatologist, The Skin Specialists & Laser Clinic to find out how we can manage moderate to severe eczema while travelling.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak speaks to Sani Hamid, Director for Wealth Management, Financial Alliance to discuss today's markets with focus on whether or not Shanghai’s easing of virus restrictions offer an instant panacea to an Asian slowdown; how quantitative quantitative tightening have an effect on markets in the region; and OPEC+'s meeting. 

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On The Soul of Business, as borders reopen and COVID-19 restrictions have eased, we are now moving towards an endemic stage. Many are now able to return to the workplace, but hybrid working is still an option for most companies. Melissa Hyak speaks to Sami Ammous, Vice President Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) at Avaya to explore trends seen in the region in terms of managing a hybrid workforce.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak speaks to Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy of Asia at Mizuho Bank to talk about market movements as several COVID-19 restrictions ease today in the region, with a focus on how China's detailed stimulus policies can support its virus-hit economy; President Joe Biden's meeting with Fed chair Jerome Powell; and whether oil prices will continue to rise. 

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On Soul of Business, there’s some tough competition out there in the brokerage industry, as new online trading platforms have entered the market.  Some adjusted their fees in response to low-cost online brokerages. Melissa Hyak speaks to Gavin Chia, Managing Director of Futu Singapore to find out whether or not a $0 fee actually means it’s free.

Highlights:

00:33 Moomoo's settlement fee is practically free right? 
04:22 Is the commission cap important? 
06:13 How do trading platforms make up income stream from reduced fees?
08:32 What are some of Futu Singapore's initiatives in Singapore?
10:38 What are the trends amongst people that use your trading platform? 

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Vinyl listening is hugely popular despite the high cost of the media, the initial investment of a turntable and a solid setup that can stand the test of time. For those in the know, in the world of vinyl record players, cartridges are the unsung heroes, often referred to as the "needles" or "diamonds" of the setup.

Japanese brand Audio-Technica, maker of vinyl cartridges for 60 years, has recently unveiled its most advanced vinyl cartridge ever, the AT-ART1000X. The direct power stereo moving coil cartridge comes with a price tag that reflects its high-end status. It features hand-wound rectangular coils, and promises "an unparalleled analogue music listening experience."

Teng Shao Kai, Managing Director, Audio-Technica (Southeast Asia) tells you what you need to know about vinyl cartridges and why the AT-ART1000X is the new standard of vinyl excellence. 

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On Health Suites, a recent Milieu Insight Study on femtech found that 85% of Southeast Asian women faced difficulty finding information and resources related to female health and wellness. Melissa Hyak speaks to Juda Kanaprach, Co-founder & Managing Director, at Milieu Insight to find out how femtech can step in and help.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Geoff Howie, Market Strategist at the SGX for a wrap of how markets did this week, with focus on how the Straits Times Index did throughout the week; how China-Australia ties are shaping up; and more on Wall Street gains after optimistic retail earnings outlooks and waning concerns about overly aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. 

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On Soul of Business, most employees have returned to the office, hybrid work arrangements will continue to be the norm, even though most employees have returned to the office. Melissa Hyak speaks to Ng Sing Hwee, Head of HR, Johnson & Johnson Singapore to find out how Johnson & Johnson welcomed their employees back to the office and how they manage the “new norm” of work arrangements.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Jerome Tay, Investment Analyst, Asian Fixed income Team at abrdn to dive into more insights on Singapore's final 1Q 2022's GDP with a focus on inflation and policies moving forward, as well as news on the release of US Federal Reserve's minutes. 

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On Soul of Business, the Singapore’s Best Employers 2022 list is based on a vast and comprehensive research project comprising tens of thousands of evaluations, the opinions of thousands of employees and the scores for hundreds of companies. Melissa Hyak speaks to Chia Khong Shoong, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Frasers Property Limited, on how the company made the list for the first time.

Highlights:

00:36 - What's the secret behind making it onto Singapore’s Best Employers 2022?

03:28 - How does Frasers prepare its managers to carry out the company's culture and values?

04:40 - What kind of impact has the COVID-19 pandemic have on Frasers' employees?

08:18 - How does Frasers promote gender equity?

11:50 - How is Frasers combating the potential disconnect employees may have as they work in a hybrid environment? 

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Sani Hamid, Director for Wealth Management, Financial Alliance to discuss Singapore's final print for the first quarter of 2022 GDP with focus on what the numbers tell us about Singapore economy; food protectionism and its impact on Singapore; and the stronger Singapore dollar against other regional currencies. 

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On the Soul of Business, social enterprises have proven to be resilient and innovative in the face of Covid-19, but more support is needed to develop the sector here. Melissa Hyak speaks to James Tan, Managing Partner of Quest Ventures and Alfie Othman, Chief Executive Officer of raiSE about Asia’s first venture capital-backed accelerator programme to help with their growth. 

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Abhilash Narayan, Senior Investment Strategist, Standard Chartered Private Bank to discuss Malaysia's decision stop exporting chicken to Singapore; the World Economic Forum Davos with a focus on cryptocurrency; and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s May 4 meeting. 

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On Soul of Business, with the reopening of many international borders, consumers are returning to travel. Melissa Hyak speaks to John Lee, CEO of H2O Hospitality, to look at how their expectations have changed and how the hospitality sector has emerged from the pandemic to cater to new demands.

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On Market View, Melissia Hyak is joined by Lionel Lin, Director, Research at the SGX to help dissect the numbers as Asian markets are mixed due to inflation fears and concerns about low economic growth, with focus on what's at the top of investors' minds; how investors can position themselves in this type of environment; and more details on the newly-listed premium EV maker NIO. 

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Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra is Thailand's new prime minister.

She assumes the post two days after Mr. Srettha Thavisin was dismissed from the premiership by the Constitutional Court for the wrongful appointment of a Cabinet minister. Ms Paetongtarn of the Pheu Thai party will be Thailand’s youngest prime minister and is the third member of the influential Shinawatra clan to take the top job, after her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck.

What would be her immediate challenges? 

In Singapore, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to deliver his maiden National Day Rally speech this weekend at the Institute of Technical Education College Central in Ang Mo Kio. What can we expect?

Independent political observer Felix Tan shares his perspectives with Lynlee Foo on the Weekly Wrap.

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On Health Suites, with an ageing population in Singapore, Mellissa Hyak speaks to Ivan Goh, founder of QuantumTX, to explore non-invasive tech that aims to help people get fitter and healthier.

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On Market View, Melissa Hyak is joined by Manpreet Gill, Head FICC Strategy at Standard Chartered Wealth Management to get an overview on markets amid ongoing concerns over inflation and increasing interest rates, with focus on the major indexes on Wall Street ending sharply lower; what effect China's lockdown has on Singapore; and whether digital currencies are losing their "outlaw" appeal. 

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