Business and Finance News - 2.20.25

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Instagram has introduced new direct messaging features, including message scheduling, translation in 99 languages, and the ability to pin up to three messages. Users can also share music stickers in DMs, and group chats now have QR codes for easier invitations, enhancing in-app communication without switching platforms. (Axios)

Key Insight → Instagram’s new DM features signal a strategic push to make the platform a one-stop hub for communication, keeping users engaged without needing to switch apps. By integrating scheduled messaging, translation, and music sharing, Instagram is blurring the lines between social media and messaging services like WhatsApp and iMessage, further solidifying its dominance in digital interaction. For the larger market, this underscores the ongoing platform wars, where social apps compete to retain users by expanding utility beyond their core functions, potentially reshaping how people connect and consume content.

JetBlue is exploring new airline partnerships after courts blocked its previous deals with Spirit Airlines and American Airlines on antitrust grounds. The airline seeks a collaboration to strengthen its competitive position against larger carriers and improve its loyalty program, but no specific agreements have been announced. (CNBC)

Key Insight → JetBlue’s search for a new airline partnership highlights its struggle to stay competitive after courts blocked its previous expansion efforts, signaling the challenges smaller carriers face in a consolidating industry. This move underscores the pressure on mid-sized airlines to find creative ways to grow, especially as larger players like Delta, United, and American dominate both domestic and international markets. For the broader airline industry, JetBlue’s persistence reflects an ongoing battle between regulatory scrutiny and market realities, where airlines must balance competition concerns with the need for scale to remain viable.

Microsoft has developed the Majorana 1 chip, a quantum processor using topological qubits designed for greater stability and scalability. The breakthrough, backed by 17 years of research, could enable million-qubit quantum computers, advancing fields like material science and medicine, with DARPA selecting Microsoft to build a fault-tolerant prototype. (The Verge)

Key Insight → Microsoft’s breakthrough with the Majorana 1 chip could bring quantum computing closer to real-world applications, potentially solving complex problems in fields like medicine, material science, and artificial intelligence. Unlike previous quantum architectures, Microsoft’s new topological qubits promise greater stability and scalability, moving the industry toward practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers. For the larger market, this signals a shift from theoretical research to commercial viability, intensifying competition among tech giants and accelerating the race to harness quantum power for industrial and scientific advancements.

Nikola has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to sell its assets after struggling with weak demand, high costs, and financial losses. Once valued at $27 billion, the EV startup’s market cap has fallen below $50 million, marking another failure in the sector amid rising interest rates and industry challenges. (Reuters)

Key Insight → Nikola’s bankruptcy underscores the brutal reality of the electric vehicle industry, where high costs, weak demand, and intense competition have forced many startups to collapse. Once valued at $27 billion, the company’s downfall highlights how investor hype around EVs has cooled, with capital drying up and only the most financially stable players surviving. For the broader market, this signals a shift from speculative growth to sustainability-focused business models, where only companies with strong demand, efficient operations, and scalable technology will thrive in the next phase of EV adoption.

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Here’s how the major indexes did yesterday:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 44,627.59 +71.25 (+0.16%)

• S&P 500: 6,144.15 +14.57 (+0.24%)

• Nasdaq Composite: 20,056.25 +14.99 (+0.07%)

• Russell 2000: 2,282.46 -7.90 (-0.34%)

Here’s how The Magnificent Seven did yesterday:

• Apple (AAPL) [3.682T]: 244.87 +0.40 (+0.16%)

• Nvidia (NVDA) [3.41T]: 139.23 -0.17 (-0.12%)

• Microsoft (MSFT) [3.083T]: 414.77 +5.13 (+1.25%)

• Amazon (AMZN) [2.402T]: 226.63 -0.02 (-0.01%)

• Alphabet (GOOGL) [2.262T]: 185.27 +1.50 (+0.82%)

• Meta Platforms (META) [1.783T]: 703.77 -12.60 (-1.76%)

• Tesla (TSLA) [1.16T]: 360.56 +6.45 (+1.82%)

Here’s how Bitcoin and Ethereum did yesterday:

• Bitcoin (BTC): $96,436.31 (1:30PM PST on 2/19/25)

• Ethereum (ETH): $2,725.08 (1:30PM PST on 2/19/25)