New York, January 11, 2026, 09:51 EST — Market closed.
- Exxon shares ended Friday up 1.4% as traders weighed fresh Venezuela headlines
- U.S. policy shifts on Venezuelan crude and revenue are back in play, with knock-on effects for oil prices
- Next dates in focus: potential sanctions moves next week; Exxon’s Jan. 30 earnings call
Exxon Mobil shares rose 1.4% on Friday to close at $124.61, after CEO Darren Woods said the oil major is ready to evaluate a return to Venezuela under tougher legal protections. 1
With U.S. markets closed for the weekend, the Venezuela story is now a near-term swing factor heading into Monday’s session, sitting on top of a broader risk-on tape. Wall Street notched record closes on Friday, while crude settled sharply higher. 2
Policy is moving quickly. President Donald Trump signed an emergency order aimed at blocking courts and creditors from seizing Venezuelan oil revenue held in U.S. Treasury accounts, a move that touches companies with longstanding claims including Exxon and ConocoPhillips. 3
In remarks released by the company, Woods called Venezuela “uninvestable” under current legal and commercial frameworks, and said Exxon would need durable investment protections and changes to the country’s hydrocarbon laws before it could put serious money to work. 4
Some investors are already wary of the trade-off between barrels and political risk. David Byrns, a portfolio manager at American Century Investments, said investors will want to see “long-lasting stability and good fiscal terms” given the history of asset seizures. 5
Oil’s own move mattered. Brent crude, the global benchmark, settled at $63.34 a barrel on Friday and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the main U.S. crude benchmark, ended at $59.12 as supply worries grew; “The uprising in Iran is keeping the market on edge,” Price Futures Group’s Phil Flynn said. 6
For Exxon stock, the Venezuela angle reads more like an option than a near-term production boost. Even with a warmer U.S. stance, a return would hinge on security, legal terms and a workable commercial framework — the kind of details that can stall, or flip, fast.
The next headline risk sits in Washington. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. may lift more Venezuela sanctions next week, a decision that could shift timing and direction of crude flows. 7
Investors also have a calendar marker from Exxon itself. The company lists its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call for Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m. CST. 8
But there’s a downside case sitting in the same place: if policy momentum fades, or if oil prices slip back on oversupply worries, the Venezuela-driven lift can unwind quickly, and energy shares tend to follow crude lower.
When trading resumes on Monday, traders will watch crude and any new signals on Venezuela export arrangements and sanctions. The bigger, fixed catalyst is Jan. 30, when Exxon reports and is likely to face questions on its 2026 outlook — including whether Venezuela turns into more than talk.
