U.S. attack on Venezuela: Gas prices, inflation and the U.S. economy

U.S. attack on Venezuela: Gas prices, inflation and the U.S. economy

U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro overnight, President Donald Trump announced Saturday. Oil prices closed at $60.75 for Brent and $57.32 for WTI on Friday. Venezuelan oil exports fell to about half of November’s 950,000 barrels per day after a U.S. blockade and cargo seizures. PDVSA’s production and refining continued normally after the strike, but its administrative systems remain affected by a December cyberattack.
3 January 2026
Big Tech stocks end first session of 2026 mixed as Tesla slides on deliveries, chips rebound

Big Tech stocks end first session of 2026 mixed as Tesla slides on deliveries, chips rebound

Tesla dropped 2.6% after reporting an 8.6% annual fall in deliveries, while Nvidia rose 1.2% as chip stocks rallied. The Dow gained 0.66%, the S&P 500 added 0.19%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.03%. Treasury yields climbed, with the 10-year at 4.191%. Investors await next week’s U.S. labor-market data after delays from the government shutdown.
Natural gas price today slips on warmer outlook; UNG dips while LNG-linked stocks hold up

Natural gas price today slips on warmer outlook; UNG dips while LNG-linked stocks hold up

U.S. natural gas futures fell 1.84% to $3.618 per mmBtu Friday as forecasts showed warmer weather through mid-January. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a storage withdrawal of 38 bcf last week, below analyst expectations. The United States Natural Gas Fund dropped 1.6%. Production and LNG export flows hit record highs in December, according to LSEG.
Wall Street kicks off 2026 higher as chipmakers rally, Tesla slides on deliveries

Wall Street kicks off 2026 higher as chipmakers rally, Tesla slides on deliveries

The Dow gained 319 points, or 0.66%, to 48,382.39 on Friday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.19% and the Nasdaq slipped 0.03%. Semiconductor and industrial shares led gains as Tesla fell 2.6% after reporting a 15.6% drop in fourth-quarter deliveries and losing its top EV-seller spot to BYD. Investors now await U.S. jobs data on Jan. 9 and inflation figures on Jan. 13.
Dow Jones today: Boeing, Caterpillar power blue-chip rise as jobs report looms

Dow Jones today: Boeing, Caterpillar power blue-chip rise as jobs report looms

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 319.10 points, or 0.7%, to 48,382.39 on Friday, while the S&P 500 gained 0.2% and the Nasdaq slipped 0.03%. Industrials led the Dow’s advance, with Caterpillar and Boeing together accounting for over 200 points of the rise. Chip stocks rallied, but Tesla shares fell about 2% after reporting an 8.6% drop in 2025 deliveries. President Trump delayed higher tariffs on some Chinese imports for a year.
AST SpaceMobile stock rockets nearly 15% — BlueBird 7 launch prep back in focus

AST SpaceMobile stock rockets nearly 15% — BlueBird 7 launch prep back in focus

AST SpaceMobile shares jumped 14.9% to $83.47 Friday after the company said its BlueBird 7 satellite arrived in Florida for launch integration. The stock move followed the recent BlueBird 6 launch from India and comes as investors await confirmation of the next launch window. AST reported $14.7 million in Q3 2025 revenue and $1.2 billion in cash as of September 30.
3 January 2026
CrowdStrike stock drops 3% to $453 as 2026 begins — here’s what investors are watching next

CrowdStrike stock drops 3% to $453 as 2026 begins — here’s what investors are watching next

CrowdStrike shares fell 3.2% to $453.58 on Friday, underperforming a slightly higher S&P 500. Other cybersecurity stocks, including Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet, also declined. Investors trimmed high-valuation software holdings amid renewed uncertainty over Federal Reserve rate cuts. Key U.S. economic data and CrowdStrike’s earnings are the next major events.
3 January 2026
Miami airport flight cancellations climb after U.S. strikes in Venezuela trigger Caribbean airspace curbs

Miami airport flight cancellations climb after U.S. strikes in Venezuela trigger Caribbean airspace curbs

Flights at Miami International Airport faced 147 delays and 50 cancellations Saturday after President Donald Trump announced U.S. forces struck Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro. The FAA barred U.S. flights from Venezuelan and nearby Caribbean airspace, citing military activity. Fort Lauderdale and Orlando airports also saw major disruptions. American Airlines issued travel waivers for affected routes.
3 January 2026
Bloom Energy stock jumps 14% to start 2026 as fuel-cell names rebound — what investors watch next

Bloom Energy stock jumps 14% to start 2026 as fuel-cell names rebound — what investors watch next

Bloom Energy shares jumped 13.58% to close at $98.69 Friday, last trading at $99.60 after hours. Plug Power and FuelCell Energy also posted double-digit gains in the first 2026 session. Traders cited interest in AI infrastructure and recent financing moves, including Bloom’s new $600 million credit facility. Investors now await upcoming U.S. data and Bloom’s next results.
BitMine (BMNR) stock jumps 15% as Tom Lee presses 50‑billion authorized-share vote — what investors watch next

BitMine (BMNR) stock jumps 15% as Tom Lee presses 50‑billion authorized-share vote — what investors watch next

BitMine shares surged 14.9% to $31.19 Friday after the company urged shareholders to approve raising its authorized shares to 50 billion from 500 million. The vote deadline is Jan. 14 ahead of a Jan. 15 meeting. BitMine cited flexibility for stock splits, capital raising, and acquisitions. The stock was little changed after hours.

Stock Market Today

Semiconductor stocks surge as AI capex stays high; Nvidia and AMD lead into next week

Semiconductor stocks surge as AI capex stays high; Nvidia and AMD lead into next week

7 February 2026
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 5.7% to 8,048.6 on Friday, with Nvidia up 7.87% and AMD rising 8.28%. The surge followed new forecasts showing global chip sales could hit $1 trillion in 2026. Amazon expects a 50% increase in capital spending this year, fueling demand for chips. The Dow Jones crossed 50,000, helped by gains in chipmakers.
Oil stocks jump on Iran risk lift for crude — what to watch before Monday

Oil stocks jump on Iran risk lift for crude — what to watch before Monday

7 February 2026
U.S. oil stocks surged Friday as crude prices rose on renewed Middle East tensions. Exxon Mobil gained 2.0%, ConocoPhillips 2.5%, and Occidental Petroleum 2.7%. Refiners rallied after a national union deal eased strike risk, though BP’s Whiting plant faces a local dispute. Brent settled at $68.05 a barrel, up 0.74%.
Silver price rebound masks fresh stress after CME lifts margins again

Silver price rebound masks fresh stress after CME lifts margins again

7 February 2026
Spot silver surged 8.6% to $77.33 an ounce Friday after dropping below $65, but still lost over 8.7% for the week. CME Group raised margin requirements for COMEX silver futures to 18% from 15%, effective after Feb. 6. China’s UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund hit its 10% down limit for a fifth session. Traders await key U.S. jobs and inflation data next week.
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