???? Etihad Triples Profit Ahead of IPO

Hala,

A Michigan man just turned his four-year lotto streak into $1.3M! ?? After sticking with the same numbers since 2019, he finally hit the jackpot at Mac's II in Taylor.(1) ?? Looks like persistence really pays off! ??

amana’s Crypto Take

• XRP Joins the ETF race! The cryptocurrency that sparked one of the SEC’s most-watched legal battles is now gunning for an ETF. Nasdaq and Cboe BZX have filed applications for multiple spot XRP ETFs on behalf of CoinShares, Canary Capital, and WisdomTree. The SEC, in a rare burst of efficiency, has acknowledged them, kicking off the 240-day review clock.
• While the U.S. regulatory machine grinds forward, Brazil isn’t waiting around. Hashdex just got the green light from its securities regulator to launch the world’s first spot XRP ETF, putting it ahead of American firms still stuck in the approval queue.
• XRP popped above $2.70 (+6.18%) on Thursday as ETF hype spread. If the rally holds, technicals point to a potential run at its all-time high of $3.40. Institutional interest is picking up, and with ETFs on the horizon, XRP’s liquidity and mainstream adoption could get a serious boost.

Stock Market Update

???? Wall Street hit the track on Wednesday, sprinting past Fed caution and tariff talks. The S&P 500 raced 0.24% to a record 6,144.15, its second record close! The Dow jogged up 0.16% to 44,627.59, while the Nasdaq 100 added a modest 0.05% to 22,175.60. Tech kept the race exciting, with Microsoft gaining 1.3% as it debuted its first-ever quantum computing chip, while Tesla revved up 2%.(2) This rally’s running on rocket fuel! ????

???? Meanwhile, Gulf stocks played tug-of-war as investors weighed fresh U.S. tariff threats. Abu Dhabi slipped 0.3% to 9,593, while Dubai rose 0.3% to 5,389.(3) ????

???? Etihad's Profit Takes Off

Etihad Airways’ profit surge is like a plane taking off from a runway after a major overhaul, soaring to new heights with a smooth ascent. With its engines revved up and a newfound efficiency, the airline soared past expectations, more than tripling its profits to a whopping $476 million in 2024.(4) It's the kind of transformation you can't help but cheer for—think of it as an underdog story where the aircraft isn't just flying; it's setting records. ????

???? Highlights of the Journey:

• Net Profit: A stellar rise to $476 million, over three times last year’s figure.
• Passenger Revenue: A sky-high $5.7 billion fueling the ascent.
• Cargo Revenue: A solid $1.1 billion, pushing the boundaries even further.
• New Destinations: More than 20 new destinations launched last year, expanding Etihad's global footprint.
• Ambitious Growth: Aiming to reach 125 airports by 2030, marking a major milestone in its expansion.
• Operational Efficiency: Significant improvements leading to smooth sailing (or flying, actually). ???

???? Flying High: Etihad’s Next Moves

Etihad’s looking ahead like a jetliner gearing up for a global tour. With plans to list a 20% stake, the airline’s eyes are set on a future of growth and global recognition. The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, is turning up the heat, becoming the epicenter of international travel with Etihad at the helm. If last year’s numbers are any indication, this is one airline that won’t be grounding itself anytime soon. ????

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Closer to Home?

• ?? ACWA Power enters Kuwait with a $693M deal! The Saudi utility giant is snapping up assets from French utility developer ENGIE, expanding its regional footprint in power and water.(5) What a move! ??
• ?? Oil giant Saudi Aramco grabs a 25% stake in Unioil Petroleum Philippines, marking its retail debut in the country while revving up its global expansion.(6) Aramco just found a new pit stop! ?
• ?? Alpha Data kicks off UAE’s 2025 IPOs! With shares priced at AED1.45 – AED1.50, the IT firm eyes a AED 1.5B valuation and a 9% yield. Subscriptions open Feb 20—time to plug in!(7) ??

What Else Is Trending

• ?? Microsoft just built its first quantum computing chip—and new matter to power it! Majorana 1, made for next-gen computing and materials discovery, needed a topological state to work.(8) What’s next, time travel? ??
• ?? Defense tech heavyweight Palantir shares tumbled 12.5% as CEO Alex Karp set up a new trading plan and reports surfaced of a Pentagon budget squeeze.(9) No defense against this drop. ???
• ?? Meanwhile, after hitting an all-time-high of $2,946.85, spot gold closed 0.2% lower to $2,928.49 on Wednesday as stronger dollar and tariff threats rattled investors.(10) ?

??Quote of the Day

“I am confident we will continue to be a financially strong airline.” — Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad CEO

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amana.app

Sources:(1) UPI, (2) (8) (9) CNBC, (3) (4) (5) Zawya, (6) Economy Middle East, (7) Gulf News, (10) Reuters