New York, Jan 18, 2026, 04:53 EST — Market closed
- Exxon Mobil shares closed up 0.6% on Friday, outperforming the nearly flat broader market.
- Crude prices climbed ahead of the U.S. holiday break, leaving energy shares jittery over the latest headlines.
- Trading picks up Tuesday, with Exxon’s quarterly earnings later this month set to be a crucial indicator.
Exxon Mobil’s shares closed Friday up 0.6% at $129.89, having reached a session peak of $130.15 earlier in the day. With U.S. markets closed over the weekend, this will be the final price investors see until trading resumes.
The New York Stock Exchange will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, extending the break for U.S. equity traders. Trading resumes Tuesday. (New York Stock Exchange)
Oil showed little relief for traders. Brent crude, the global benchmark, closed at $64.13 a barrel on Friday, climbing 0.6%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) finished at $59.44, up 0.4%. Some investors stepped in to cover short positions ahead of the three-day weekend, avoiding the risk of being caught on the wrong side. “Buying today seems to be people not wanting to be caught short over the long weekend,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group. Priyanka Sachdeva, an analyst at Phillip Nova, described oil as “range-bound,” noting Brent was “broadly hovering between $57 and $67.” (Reuters)
Chevron inched higher by 0.1% on Friday, whereas Valero Energy slipped 0.6%, MarketWatch data shows. (MarketWatch)
Disruptions in the Black Sea are starting to impact physical crude prices. Exxon, which holds a stake in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, lowered its asking price on a CPC Blend cargo multiple times before pulling the offer after failing to secure a buyer, Reuters reported. CPC Blend, a Kazakhstan export grade, flows through a pipeline that represents about 1.5% of global oil supply, according to Reuters. (Reuters)
Wall Street wrapped up Friday almost unchanged. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, noted, “To finish the week around flat with the S&P 500 still within spitting distance of 7,000 — most investors will take that as a win.” (Reuters)
Exxon shareholders face a straightforward yet challenging short-term play: oil prices lead, and the stock tends to trail. Geopolitical news over the weekend often triggers a reset when markets open Tuesday, particularly after a long weekend that tightens positions.
The flip side is clear: if tensions ease or worries over supply ease up, crude prices could drop sharply. Energy stocks would likely retreat quickly, especially if the wider market shifts into a defensive mode.
Exxon’s next major event is the Q4 2025 earnings report, set for Friday, Jan. 30. The company will hold a conference call that same morning, according to their announcement. (Exxonmobil)
