ASX today: CY26 trade to open flat on Trump’s Venezuela strike, rate lethargy

Market Overview - The ASX 200 is expected to see a slight dip of -3.5 points at the open of the first Monday of 2026, indicating a flat market start [2] - Wall Street's leading indexes finished flat on the previous Friday, with the S&P 500 up +0.2% and the Nasdaq down -0.1% [4] Oil and Commodities - Major oil companies such as Woodside (ASX:WDS), Beach Energy (ASX:BPT), and Santos (ASX:STO) are under observation as oil prices are affected by geopolitical events, with Brent crude dropping to around $60 per barrel [6][4] - Iron Ore has started the year strong at $105.40 per tonne in Singapore, while Brent Crude is fairly flat at $60.75 per barrel, and Gold is priced at $4,348 per ounce [9] Company News - Vulcan Energy (ASX:VSL) is undergoing a leadership change with Gavin Street replacing Rhys Jones as CEO, while Rhys will remain on the board [7] - New Frontier (ASX:NFM) is closer to obtaining a mining lease in Queensland after state regulators approved the review of its Big One copper deposit [7] - Australian Agricultural (ASX:AAC) reported that flooding in north-western Queensland has impacted three of its properties, with a focus on the welfare of its people and animals [8]