???? U.S. Jobless Claims See Sharpest Rise Since October

Hala,

A $19 strawberry ?? from Kyoto, Japan, sold at L.A.'s luxury store Erewhon, has social media in an uproar. (1) One influencer called it the best strawberry she’s ever had. Others say: “at that price, it better come with a vacation home!” ????

• Bitcoin slid 6.45% to $78,900 in London trading, extending its slump to over 25% since its all-time high just six weeks ago. It’s not alone—Ether, Solana, and XRP are also feeling the heat, each tumbling more than 7%. The crypto market is looking less like a fortress and more like a domino setup.
• The latest U.S. tariff bombshell—25% levies on Canada and Mexico, plus fresh taxes on Chinese imports—has rattled investors, sparking a selloff across Asian equities and European futures. Bitcoin, once hyped as a hedge against uncertainty, is moving more like a high-risk tech stock—and right now, risk appetite is vanishing fast.
• Investors aren’t just watching from the sidelines—they’re heading for the exits. Over $1 billion has been pulled from U.S. Bitcoin ETFs, adding to the market’s fragility. Even with some pro-crypto policy moves in Washington, trade tensions are stealing the spotlight, leaving digital assets in a tough spot.

Stock Market Update

???? Wall Street took another hit on Thursday as tariff plans for Canada and Mexico shook markets, while Nvidia’s post-earnings stumble added to the chaos. The S&P 500 slid 1.59% to 5,861.57, the Nasdaq 100 plunged 2.75% to 20,550.95, while the Dow dipped 0.45% to 43,239.50. Tariffs, tech woes, and tumbling stocks—what a rough ride.(2) ??????

???? Meanwhile, UAE stocks played seesaw as Dubai gained 0.2% to 5,361, fueled by Emirates NBD, and Abu Dhabi eased 0.3% to 9,613 as ADNOC Gas lost steam.(3) ????

???? Jobless Claims Swirl Like a Windstorm!

A gust of wind just shook up the U.S. job market last week, sending jobless claims up by 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 242,000—like a rogue leaf caught in a sudden gust. “Extreme winter weather was chiefly responsible for the pickup in initial claims last week," said Samuel Tombs, chief U.S. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.” But is it just a seasonal blip? Or the calm before a wider storm? ????

???? Wind-Whipped Numbers:

• Initial Claims: 242,000—a sudden uptick of 22,000 (Biggest jump since October!).
• Continuing Claims: 1.862 million—down by 5,000 (Hold steady!).
• GDP: No change in fourth-quarter growth, still holding at a 2.3% pace (Steady like a sailboat on calm waters!).
• Core Inflation: Rose to 2.7% in Q4 (up from 2.5%).
• Federal Layoffs: Government job cuts could impact up to 750,000 jobs, with Elon Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) already firing probationary workers. Economists warn this could trigger broader economic hardship. ?????

???? Layoffs in the Distance—Could They Blow In?

While the job market’s still hanging on by a thread, we’re seeing some swirling winds of uncertainty. The winter storms that swept across the country might have been to blame for a chunk of that rise in claims, but as tech billionaires get involved (Musk) and layoffs from the feds roll in, it might only be a matter of time before we feel the full effect. The real question: Will the storm pass, or are we just getting started? ?????

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Closer to Home?

• ?? Dubai’s Parkin just made parking less of a headache with its new app—pay, dispute fines, and even request refunds with a tap. The real game-changer? ‘PayLater,’ giving motorists 48 hours post-exit to settle up.(5) How convenient! ??
• ?? Abu Dhabi Global Market’s (ADGM) assets under management (AUM) skyrocketed 245% in 2024, leaving last year’s 35% growth in the dust. With 275 financial heavyweights on deck, Abu Dhabi’s finance game is in beast mode.(6) ??
• ? Gordon Technologies, a U.S. shale gas powerhouse backed by ADNOC Drilling’s Enersol, is set to expand in the Middle East as the region dives deeper into unconventional gas.(7) Big energy moves ahead! ??

What Else Is Trending

• ?? Rolls-Royce hit full throttle with a ￡2.46B profit (+57% YoY), a ￡1B buyback, and dividends back after five years. Shares soared 19% to an all-time high. What jet-powered momentum.(8) ??
• ?? Meta AI is going solo! The generative AI chatbot, born in 2023, is leveling up a standalone AI app—joining Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.(9) This bot’s ready for the big leagues! ??
• ?? Meanwhile, oil prices surged on Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump yanked Chevron’s Venezuela license, stoking supply fears. Brent rose 2.1% to $74.04, while WTI climbed 2.5% to $70.35.(10) ???

??Quote of the Day

"These firings likely add up to the biggest layoffs in the history of the United States." — Michele Evermore, a senior Fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance

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amana.app

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