BizNews Radio

In this episode of BizNews Daybreak, Alec Hogg covers the intersection of high-stakes global politics and critical local challenges: Trump’s Nobel Moment: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presents her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump at the White House, calling him the “heir to Washington”. US-Taiwan Trade Deal: The US and Taiwan agree to a trade deal that lowers tariffs to 15% and secures a $250bn investment in the American AI and energy sectors. Jamie Dimon on the Fed: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon dismisses speculation, saying there is “no chance” he will replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair. SA’s Agriculture Crisis: Minister John Steenhuisen is under pressure as Foot and Mouth Disease spreads like a “veld fire,” with ActionSA’s Athol Trollip criticising the lack of compensation for farmers. Market Rally: The JSE sees gains with Purple Group (+3%) and local car retailers up, while global tech giants ASML and TSMC surge on the back of the AI boom. Investment Insight: A look at why the “flow of funds” is currently outweighing company fundamentals in driving share prices.

From dairy farms to feedlots, South Africa’s agricultural economy is under siege. Athol Trollip outlines how foot-and-mouth disease has crushed production, frozen incomes and exposed deep failures inside the Department of Agriculture. A conversation every business leader and taxpayer should hear.

ETFs and mandates are reshaping markets. In today’s Editor’s Desk, BizNews editor Alec Hogg explains why $1 of inflows can move $5 of market value—plus what SA’s foot-and-mouth vaccine fiasco says about state capacity. R10k prize for your best 800-word investment idea.

In this morning's briefing, Alec Hogg unpacks a volatile geopolitical landscape where conflicting reports emerge from Iran—Donald Trump claims de-escalation while internal memos suggest mass casualties. We speak to Iranian-born and bred entrepreneur and former UCT Economics Prof Iraj Abedian, who delivers a scathing critique of the South African government's silence on human rights abuses in Iran. On the markets, the South African Rand resilience continues, strengthening to R16.42 against the Dollar. Sasol enjoys a great few days, up 17% for the week, while cracks in the MTN share price surge take a hit on Iran exposure fears. Finally, mining expert Peter Major explains why the US government might bring an "open chequebook" to the upcoming Mining Indaba in Cape Town as the race for critical minerals heats up. Key Topics & Highlights: Market Snapshot: The Rand holds recent gains at R16.42/$; Gold dips slightly while Bitcoin holds firm at $95,750. Stock Movers: Sasol climbs another 5.5% (best performer among large caps); MTN falls 70% over the last year (down 2.3% yesterday) due to Iran exposure; US banking stocks (Wells Fargo, Citi) slide on earnings. The Iran Crisis: Conflicting narratives between the White House and reports on the ground. Dr. Iraj Abedian Interview: A powerful discussion on why the SA government is maintaining relations with a regime Abedian describes as the "Nazis of the 21st Century," and whether this violates South Africa's own constitutional mandate. US Politics: Trump’s latest comments on Greenland and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Mining Indaba Preview: Peter Major discusses the "US vs China" battle for critical minerals and the unique opportunity for South Africa to secure Western investment.

From copper overtaking gold to PGMs roaring back, Peter Major unpacks the forces driving mining’s global outperformance. Plus, why US money is hunting critical minerals, what investors should avoid, and why South Africa risks missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity.