Aquestive(US:AQST) Benzinga·2026-01-10 13:31Market Overview - U.S. equities ended the first full trading week of 2026 positively, with major benchmarks like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching new record highs, influenced by geopolitical events and a mixed December jobs report [2] - Investors shifted focus from mega-cap technology stocks to cyclical sectors, particularly energy and defense, following a significant U.S. military operation in Venezuela and expectations of increased crude supply [2][3] Sector Performance - Energy and defense stocks led the market gains, with oil-related equities rising due to optimism about Venezuela's potential to supply crude oil to U.S. markets, while defense contractors benefited from plans for a larger Pentagon budget in 2027 [3] - Smaller defense contractors outperformed the broader market, indicating a shift in market leadership influenced by geopolitical factors [3] Economic Data - The December jobs report indicated slower than expected payroll growth but a lower unemployment rate, alleviating some investor concerns regarding labor market stress [4] - Mixed sentiments around inflation and labor conditions suggested that the Federal Reserve may maintain steady interest rates in the near term [4] Notable Stock Movements - Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) shares rose approximately 5.8% following U.S. military actions in Venezuela, which boosted investor optimism about accessing Venezuelan oil resources [5] - Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) stock gained momentum amid speculation of its involvement in U.S. military operations in Venezuela, attracting attention from investors and analysts [6] - Nuclear energy stocks, including Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) and Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU), rallied after the Trump administration announced expanded federal support for domestic nuclear infrastructure, enhancing long-term demand prospects [7] Bearish Trends - Real estate and housing-linked stocks experienced significant sell-offs after President Trump announced plans to limit large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, impacting major players like Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) and Invitation Homes Inc. (NASDAQ:INVH) [9] - U.S. defense stocks fell sharply after Trump ordered major defense contractors to halt dividends and share buybacks until they increased investments in production, affecting companies like Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) [10] - Aquestive Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST) shares dropped after the FDA flagged issues with its allergy drug application, raising concerns about potential delays in the approval process [11]