Market Summary
Markets pushed higher as risk appetite returned: the Dow closed above 49,000, the S&P 500 hit new highs and the Nasdaq led with tech strength. Volatility eased for now, with megacap AI names and cyclicals driving gains while commodities and safe havens rallied on geopolitical risk and trade policy noise.
U.S. officials say Venezuelan oil could soon flow to American markets after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, while talks on exports and logistics advance. Markets and refiners are grappling with rapid policy shifts and supply questions as Washington courts buyers.
Figure of the Day
50 million – Max barrels Trump says Venezuela will transfer to the U.S.
The White House is actively courting oil executives about rebuilding Venezuela’s output, and officials have floated taxpayer support to underwrite risky investment. Industry leaders weigh security guarantees, legal exposure and commercial viability.
The White House again raised the prospect of seizing Greenland, prompting a swift diplomatic backlash from European capitals. Allies are coordinating a defensive response as U.S. rhetoric fuels transatlantic tensions.
Bullish
Samsung Bulls Bet Record Earnings Can Sustain $350 Billion Rally
Investors expect Samsung’s record chip profits and pricing power to fund further gains, underpinning optimism in broader semiconductor cycles.
More on bloomberg.com
President Trump warned Republicans their electoral prospects could mean another impeachment fight, reinforcing pressure on the GOP ahead of midterms. His public admonitions to House allies underscore a fraught legislative calendar.
U.S. equities extended gains with the Dow and S&P hitting fresh milestones, driven by tech strength and risk appetite. Investors rotated into cyclicals and small caps even as geopolitical shocks tested safe-haven flows.
Bearish
AIG Chief to Step Down, Shares Slide
AIG said CEO Peter Zaffino will retire midyear in a leadership shakeup that sent the insurer’s stock lower amid investor concerns about strategy and oversight.
More on nytimes.com
Elon Musk’s xAI completed a massive financing round even as its Grok chatbot faces global regulatory and reputational pressure over non‑consensual sexualized images. The dual story is reshaping investor and policy attention on risky AI outputs.
Nvidia is accelerating production of H200 AI chips and preparing shipments to China pending export approvals, highlighting renewed demand from Chinese customers. The moves underscore technology geopolitics and supply‑chain choreography at CES.
Regulatory Impact
U.S. officials propose potential subsidies and security guarantees to attract oil investment in post‑Maduro Venezuela; CDC and HHS rolled back parts of the childhood vaccine schedule; EU carbon border adjustment came into force Jan.1.
Comments from Nvidia executives sent a wave through data‑center suppliers, shaving gains from cooling and memory makers as investors reassess capex. Market moves highlight how single-company signals can cascade across hardware suppliers.
Beijing imposed export curbs on a suite of dual‑use goods, escalating tensions with Tokyo and raising the strategic profile of rare earths. Markets and manufacturers warn of potential supply disruptions to critical high‑tech sectors.
Quote
“We’re going to keep the oil.”
— President Donald Trump
Security forces clashed with protesters in Tehran’s main bazaar as Iran’s unrest deepens and casualty figures rise sharply. Government rhetoric blamed external interference even as domestic anger over economic conditions grows.
Wall Street banks moved decisively into spot crypto ETFs as Morgan Stanley filed filings for Bitcoin and Solana products, signaling widening institutional embrace. The filings may reshape flows into digital assets this year.
Nvidia and Siemens deepened cooperation to build industrial AI infrastructure, while Nvidia will speed Siemens’ chip‑design tools with GPU acceleration. The partnerships aim to industrialize AI across manufacturing and design workflows.
Japan’s Imabari moved to consolidate shipbuilding with a deal for JMU to better compete with Chinese yards, while Tokyo’s corporate bond market is poised for heavy issuance in 2026. The moves reflect Asia’s shipping and financing recalibration.
Shareholders approved the merger of Fifth Third and Comerica, a notable banking consolidation amid sector repositioning. Separately, Wells Fargo poached a major advisory team from Citi as banks retool strategy and talent.
Nestlé recalled specific SMA infant formula batches over contamination concerns while clarifying Canadian products were unaffected. The recall heightens scrutiny of supply‑chain safety for infant nutrition.
Telecom and security providers faced fresh breaches as Brightspeed investigated a data dump and Ledger confirmed customer details were exposed via an ecommerce partner. The incidents underscore persistent exposure across consumer tech.
The Supreme Court signaled an imminent opinion day that could decide the fate of large tariff programs, raising the prospect of costly refunds. Legal uncertainty over trade policy looms over exporters and importers alike.
Base and precious metals jumped on supply‑concern and safe‑haven flows amid geopolitical shocks and tariff threats. Traders are rethinking industrial demand forecasts as copper and silver rally sharply.