US Oil Stocks Climb as Venezuela’s Maduro Captured by US Forces

TLDR

• US oil stocks surged after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by American forces.
• Chevron shares rose more than 4 percent while Halliburton and ConocoPhillips also recorded strong gains.
• President Trump confirmed the US will temporarily run Venezuela and plans to boost its oil production.
• Analysts said Venezuela’s damaged oil infrastructure will take time and large investments to restore.
• Defense stocks in the US and Europe climbed as investors anticipated increased military spending.

Shares in US energy and defense firms surged on Monday after the United States seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a military strike and declared temporary control over the country. Investors moved quickly, pushing up prices of oil stocks and safe-haven assets like gold and silver, while broader markets showed confidence despite geopolitical tensions. Brent crude also rose as traders assessed potential disruptions to oil supply from Venezuela.

Chevron, ConocoPhillips Lead Energy Gains

Chevron shares jumped over 7% in pre-market trading and opened more than 4% higher, supported by expectations of expanded access to Venezuelan oil. ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil also gained, reflecting hopes of new drilling opportunities following Washington’s intervention. Spanish energy company Repsol added 2%, while Halliburton climbed over 7% among oil service firms.

President Trump confirmed plans to meet oil executives to discuss increasing Venezuelan output, according to a Reuters report. He said the US would run Venezuela temporarily and emphasized plans for a “safe, proper and judicious transition.” Analysts noted that US firms might benefit, although Venezuela’s oil infrastructure remains damaged and outdated.

Former BP chief Lord Browne stated restoring Venezuela’s oil sector would “take a tremendous amount of skill, investment, and time.” Strategists from OCBC Bank added that Venezuela currently contributes just 1% to global oil output. Experts agreed there may be only a limited near-term production boost due to years of decline.

Defense and Precious Metals Stocks Jump

Defense stocks rose sharply across Europe and the US as investors reacted to higher geopolitical risks following the US operation in Venezuela. Shares in BAE Systems rose 5% in London, while Germany’s Rheinmetall gained over 8%, reflecting expectations of higher government defense spending. Russ Mould of AJ Bell said, “It was only natural to see the sector in demand after Venezuela’s leader was captured.”

Gold climbed 1.9% to $4,412 an ounce, while silver gained 3.6% as funds moved into safe assets. Spot gold reached a one-week high, while US gold futures rose 2.8% to $4,451.5 per ounce. Analysts tied the gains to geopolitical uncertainty and investor hedging against market volatility.

Mining shares tracked the metal price gains, with Endeavour Mining and Fresnillo both advancing over 4%. Investors remained cautious about commodity supply chains but welcomed the price uptick. These moves followed a 60% annual surge in gold in 2025, its strongest since 1979.

Stock Indexes Gain as Dollar Slips

Despite global tension, broader markets avoided a sell-off and continued climbing in early 2026. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.23% to 48,977.18, setting a new record. The S&P 500 energy index hit its highest level since March 2025.

The Nasdaq Composite also rose 0.69% to 23,395.82, while MSCI’s world stock index increased by 0.82%. In Europe, the STOXX 600 index gained 0.94% and emerging markets rose 1.51%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 3% after positive manufacturing data.

Crude prices rose modestly, with Brent settling at $61.76 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate closing at $58.32. However, analysts warned of possible price swings depending on how long Venezuela remains under US control. Energy strategist Oliver Pursche said, “It’s a reasonable reaction from the markets to largely ignore the geopolitics around Venezuela.”

The US dollar index dipped 0.24% to 98.32 after hitting a four-week high, while US Treasury yields eased slightly. The yield on the 10-year note fell to 4.165%, down from 4.189% on Friday. Traders turned attention to upcoming US economic data, including the December jobs report due Friday.

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