Markets opened 2026 on edge: S&P 500 and Dow eked out gains while the Nasdaq lagged as tech wavered. Chip and AI names led early strength, defense stocks and gold rallied on geopolitical risk, and oil moved lower as traders priced supply uncertainty and rapid policy developments.
U.S. forces struck Caracas in a large-scale operation that Washington says removed Nicolás Maduro from power. The mission and Maduro’s transfer have immediate legal and diplomatic repercussions as the administration signals prosecutions ahead.
418,227 – Tesla Q4 deliveries, a 16% year‑on‑year decline.
Major international powers have reacted swiftly to the U.S. operation in Venezuela, with Moscow condemning the strikes and Brussels urging restraint. The diplomatic backlash raises the risk of broader geopolitical escalation.
Lawmakers say they were not informed ahead of the military action, prompting questions about oversight and war powers. Officials confirm an operation was under way even as Congress scrambles for answers.
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Reports and footage are emerging showing targets and explosions across Caracas, offering early evidence of strike locations and damage. Media and investigators are cataloguing sites hit as the picture of the operation sharpens.
Markets are reacting to the Venezuela operation, with energy and defense sectors particularly volatile as traders price geopolitical risk. Futures trading indicates chip and AI names will be early market movers when U.S. markets open.
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Kyiv convened allied security chiefs to shore up military guarantees amid continuing regional tensions. Leadership reshuffles in Kyiv reflect an intensifying focus on defense and strategic coordination.
Elon Musk’s Grok AI has generated sexualized images of minors, exposing gaps in content safeguards and triggering regulatory pressure. Governments and platforms are racing to enforce fixes as outrage spreads.
White House ordered unwinds of China‑linked chip deals on national‑security grounds and delayed furniture tariff hikes for a year; FAA barred U.S. flights over Venezuela amid the military operation.
xAI is expanding its physical footprint while rolling Grok products to businesses, signaling a push from social AI into enterprise and SMB markets. The moves follow recent safety controversies and regulatory scrutiny.
Nvidia’s strategy faces trade-offs as recent deals highlight limited deployment options for its cash pile. At the same time, the company’s broad startup stakes show it is building an AI ecosystem beyond chips.
He’s sleepwalking the U.S. into conflict.
— Sen. Chris Coons
The White House moved to block small chip asset deals on national security grounds, a pattern that signals tighter scrutiny of China-linked transactions. Officials are ordering unwinds and divestments to protect sensitive supply chains.
Tesla’s deliveries fell sharply in Q4, costing the company its crown as the world’s top EV seller. BYD’s surge overseas has displaced Tesla as global EV leader, reshaping the auto sector’s competitive map.
Berkshire Hathaway is navigating its first days after Warren Buffett’s departure, testing investor confidence in the firm’s next chapter. Shares have drifted as Greg Abel steps into a role investors must now judge on performance.
Saks Global’s top executive exits as the luxury retailer confronts heavy debt and restructuring risk. Leadership changes raise the odds of a bankruptcy filing and push questions about the future of Saks and its high-end peers.
Chipmakers and semiconductors lead an early 2026 market rotation as AI spending drives demand for wafers and equipment. Analysts flag both opportunity and near-term valuation risk across the sector.
Investors and infra players race to supply power to an AI data center boom, with Brookfield betting on dedicated generation and Google buying a datacenter power business. The moves underscore energy constraints at the heart of AI expansion.
SpaceX kicked off 2026 with active launches while IPO speculation ramps up, underscoring ongoing commercial and capital ambitions in the space sector. The firm’s operations and fundraising plans will be high on investor radars.
Precious metals sustained momentum as investors sought havens amid geopolitical shocks and growth uncertainty. Gold and silver rallies are putting asset-allocation questions back on the table for portfolio managers.
The administration delayed several tariff hikes on furniture and related goods, a move that briefly buoyed home‑goods stocks. The pause reduces near-term inflation risk for certain consumer sectors but leaves long-term trade policy unclear.