July 31 (Reuters) - Intercontinental Exchange ( ICE ),

the parent of the New York Stock Exchange, beat second-quarter

profit estimates on Thursday, as elevated volatility drove

record revenue.

Exchanges thrive during bouts of market volatility as

investors frequently rebalance portfolios to seize opportunities

and hedge against risks, driving up trading volumes.

U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs triggered

volatility in April, while tensions in the Middle East

exacerbated in June.

The volatility index, a barometer for market

uncertainty and Wall Street's most-watched gauge of investor

anxiety, spiked to record levels in April before easing as

optimism over potential trade deals calmed markets.

The company's revenue from trading in energy-related

products jumped 27% to $595 million, while total net revenue

surged 10% to record $2.54 billion in the quarter.

On an adjusted basis, ICE earned record $1.81 per share in

the quarter, topping Wall Street expectations of $1.77,

according to estimates compiled by LSEG.

Shifting OPEC+ commitments and policy changes in the

U.S. have also supported energy trading volumes at exchange

operators like ICE.

ICE's energy average daily volume (ADV) surged 27% to a

quarterly record, with gains across segments including Brent,

gasoil, natural gas, and other crude and refined products.

Volatility in oil and gas markets led traders and investors

to buy and sell more futures and options tied to Brent crude,

U.S. natural gas and European gas, while new markets for carbon

and renewable credits added further activity.

Meanwhile, ICE's listings business posted a 1% rise in

quarterly revenue, anchored by large offerings such as

stablecoin issuer Circle.

After a brief lull in April, the U.S. IPO market saw a sharp

pickup in activity during the second quarter as companies that

had delayed their listings amid tariff tensions moved ahead on

their listings.

An increase in the number of IPOs helps exchanges, which

charge fees for stock listings.