Premium: Look past the headlines because something good is stirring in SA. Ask Frans.

START YOUR MORNING BY LISTENING TO TODAY'S BIZNEWS BREAKFAST BRIEFING: Wall Street sells on rumour, buys on fact with Microsoft, Google; SA's electricity sector watershed; IMF slashes world growth forecast.There's a clear message from Mr Market's reaction to last night's quarterlies from Microsoft and Alphabet: always look past the headlines..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.During the session, both stocks were sold down in anticipation of missing Wall Street analyst expectations on earnings and revenues. That was confirmed when results were released after the market closed. But both stocks surged in the after-market, recouping the day's losses and substantially more. .There's a similar movie playing out in South Africa. Headlines scream out the bad news, but look beyond them and there's much hope. For instance, Cyril's new electricity deal is a game changer. Ditto a likely ANC disintegration after December and a very different government in 2024..I'm interviewing former IRR chief Dr Frans Cronje later today. When we spoke a year ago, this perennial SA pessimist was excited about the phoenix rising from the ashes. Keep an eye out for his latest insights – up this afternoon on BizNews TV. I've a feeling we'll be treated to some uplifting commentary..WATCH: Clem Sunter is in a league of his own. The former head of Anglo's Gold and Uranium Division (when it was the world's #1), the Oxford-educated futurist and prolific best-selling author is passionate about encouraging entrepreneurship. Particularly those resilient beings who overcome incredible odds by operating successfully in South African townships, a highly competitive, under-researched and under-supported sector. Sunter has little time for State-imposed schemes that waste taxpayer money on favouring the creation of 'businesses' by the politically connected. Much better, he says, for government to recognise a veritable army of informal sector entrepreneurs building businesses and creating jobs where meritocracy rules. In this interview with Alec Hogg, Sunter lauds the insights of recent BizNews interviewee GG Alcock – suggesting his voice is the one should be heard above those of many empty vessels whom ignore the township economy and thus have little feel for what's really happening in South Africa..More for you to read today: .Microsoft Earnings Dented by Cloud Slowdown, Videogame Sales Drop. Software giant reports lowest earnings growth in two years.Google Sales Growth Slows as Pressures Mount on Ad Market. Online advertising remains in focus for investors as an industry critical to the health of many internet companies.General Motors' Income Tumbles 40% on China Loss, Parts Shortages. Auto maker's weaker results reflect challenges with supply-chain disruptions, including a shortage of semiconductors. Trump Says LIV Golf Has Been Worth 'Billions of Dollars' in Publicity for Saudi Arabia. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal before his Bedminster course hosts the Saudi-backed circuit, the former president said LIV Golf has been a 'great thing' for the kingdom's image..NB FOR YOUR WALL STREET JOURNAL ACCESS….As a Premium subscriber you are entitled to full membership of wsj.com (normal price $29 a month). Be sure to action your access through the Premium link on the BizNews website. Because of The Wall Street Journal's credential requirements, be sure to create a password which has at least 8 characters and includes at least one letter and one number – NB it MAY NOT contain any special characters (ie #, !, @ etc). To maintain access to WSJ.com, you MUST enter our partner's website via Biznews Premium at least once a month. A final PS, if you had previously signed up for WSJ you'll need to clear the cookies from your device. Our helpdesk can assist – support@alecbiznews-com

Premium: Look past the headlines because something good is stirring in SA. Ask Frans.

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