Key Takeaways XLE comes into focus after Trump vows U.S. control of Venezuela's oil after the capture of the leader.CVX is the only U.S. major in Venezuela, positioning it for privileged access to vast oil reserves. VDE offers diversified exposure to U.S. oil majors as investors weigh asset recovery against high costs.The global energy landscape experienced a dramatic upheaval recently following the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro. This bold geopoliti ...

The geopolitical hits keep coming, but where do things flow from here? That was the million-barrel question that markets began to reckon with on Monday. As you may have detected by the relentless push notifications on your lock screen this weekend, the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday and brought him stateside to face drug-trafficking charges. President Trump said US energy companies will be invited to revitalize the country’s struggling energy industry, rich in reserves ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures showed mixed results following a higher close on Monday, with the Dow Jones increasing nearly 600 points to a new all-time high after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro [1] - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.17%, while the two-year bond was at 3.45%, with an 83.9% likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates in January [2] Stocks in Focus - CoreWeave Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) shares rose 1.87% as it plans to integrate Nvidia Corp.'s Rubin platform into its cloud services, although it maintains a weaker price trend overall [5] - Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares increased by 4.13% after acquiring Cogentrix Energy for approximately $4.7 billion, but it also has a weaker price trend [5] - Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MCHP) advanced 3.19% after projecting third-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of about $1.185 billion, exceeding previous guidance [5] - Galapagos NV ADR (NASDAQ:GLPG) shares climbed 5.99% following the decision to wind down its cell therapy activities, maintaining a stronger price trend [5] Analyst Insights - Professor Jeremy Siegel expressed a positive outlook for 2026, citing strong GDP tracking and resilient holiday spending, indicating a fundamentally solid market [9] - Siegel noted that higher productivity is disinflationary, allowing for real growth without necessitating Federal Reserve policy tightening, and suggested the Fed could cut rates by 50 basis points by mid-year [10] - Despite potential risks in January, Siegel believes the underlying fundamentals favor a positive investing environment for 2026 [11]

Venezuela crypto market? — Source: CoinGape Venezuela:- The recent arrest of Venezuela’s President Maduro has once again pushed the country into global headlines. Venezuela has long been known for holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves but the story doesn’t end there. Maduro’s fallout is shining an even brighter light on a trend that’s been quietly accelerating for years – Venezuela’s rapid embrace of crypto. This has been driven by hyperinflation, broken banking rails and the search for reliable ...

Market Overview - Asian stocks continued a global record run, with investors focusing on upcoming U.S. economic data despite geopolitical tensions [1] - U.S. manufacturing activity contracted in December, the most significant decline since 2024, increasing expectations for Federal Reserve policy easing [1] Commodity Prices - Gold prices rose to over $4,460 an ounce, while oil prices eased after a previous increase of $1 per barrel due to concerns about crude flows from Venezuela [2] - The U.S. military operation in Venezuela has sparked optimism for future investments in the U.S. oil industry [5] Regional Stock Performance - China's Shanghai Composite index increased by 1.50% to 4,083.67, marking its highest level in over a decade [2] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng index surged by 1.38% to 26,710.45, driven by gains in the financial sector [2] - Japan's Nikkei average rose by 1.32% to 52,518.08, led by oil-related stocks and precision tools maker Disco Corp., which increased by 6.1% [3] - Seoul's Kospi average jumped by 1.52% to 4,525.48, supported by gains in semiconductors, brokerages, and shipbuilders [4] - New Zealand's S&P/NZX-50 index rose by 0.56% to 13,663.58, nearing a six-week high [5] U.S. Stock Market - U.S. stocks experienced gains, with the Dow increasing by 1.2% to a new record closing high, the S&P 500 gaining 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite advancing by 0.7% [6]

Market Performance - Asian shares experienced strong gains, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 closing at a record high of 52,518.08, up 1.3% [2] - South Korea's Kospi rose 1.5% to 4,525.98, driven by gains in automakers and electronics manufacturers [2] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng increased by 1.5% to 26,748.80, while the Shanghai Composite index also rose 1.5% to 4,082.36, marking its highest level in four years [3] - The S&P 500 rose 0.6%, just below its record set in late December, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new record, increasing by 1.2% to 48,977.18 [4] Energy Sector - Oil prices initially surged following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with U.S. crude rising 1.7% to $58.32 per barrel and Brent crude also up 1.7% to $61.76 per barrel [5] - However, oil prices fell back early Tuesday, with U.S. crude dropping to $58.14 per barrel and Brent crude to $61.64 per barrel [5] - Energy companies saw significant gains, with Chevron up 5.1%, Exxon Mobil rising 2.2%, and Halliburton surging 7.8% after discussions about U.S. oil companies aiding in the rebuilding of Venezuela's oil industry [6] Economic Indicators - The Institute for Supply Management reported a continued contraction in the manufacturing sector for December, with a focus on the upcoming services sector report [7] - Job market reports later in the week will be crucial for the Federal Reserve, which is balancing a slowing job market against rising inflation risks [8][9] Technology Sector - Technology companies, particularly in artificial intelligence, were highlighted during the CES trade show, with Nvidia falling 0.4% and Applied Materials rising 5.7% [10] - The advancements in AI have contributed to a series of market records in 2025, with updates from major tech firms expected to clarify the financial implications of AI investments [10] Currency and Commodities - The U.S. dollar weakened against the Japanese yen, slipping to 156.28 from 156.40, while the euro rose to $1.1739 from $1.1724 [11] - Gold prices increased by 0.5% after a significant jump of 2.8% on Monday, and silver added 2.9% following a 7.9% rise [11] - Bitcoin fell 1.3% to approximately $93,700 after reaching its highest level since mid-November [12]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. president is advocating for oil companies to increase production in Venezuela [1] Group 1 - The U.S. administration is focusing on enhancing oil production in Venezuela to address global supply issues [1] - This initiative is part of a broader strategy to stabilize oil prices and reduce dependency on other oil-producing nations [1]

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices have decreased in early Asian trading due to expectations of a potential easing of sanctions related to Venezuela [1] Group 1 - The market is reacting to the possibility of relief from Venezuela-related sanctions, which could impact oil supply dynamics [1]

Crude oil began trade this year with a dip, despite the news about U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the taking of President Nicolas Maduro to the U.S. Normally, such events would have pushed oil higher, but not this year. This year, oil prices will need a much more major disruption to rebound – and so will gas prices. Brent crude was trading at a little over $60 per barrel at the start of the first full trading week of 2026, after President Trump announced the capture of the Venezuelan president, accompanied ...

The United States may subsidize oil companies to enable them to rebuild Venezuela's energy infrastructure, President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC News on Monday. ...