NEW YORK, December 29, 2025, 11:28 ET — Regular session
- Exxon shares rose about 1.5% as crude prices jumped more than 2% on geopolitical headlines.
- Chevron and ConocoPhillips also gained, while the S&P 500 ETF traded lower in late morning dealings.
- Traders are watching delayed U.S. inventory data and thin year-end trading for the next push in oil-linked stocks.
Exxon Mobil shares climbed on Monday, tracking a rise in crude prices as traders reacted to fresh geopolitical risks and updates on U.S.-Ukraine talks. The stock was up 1.5% at $120.93 in late morning trading.
The move matters because Exxon and its peers remain tightly tied to day-to-day swings in oil, even as broader U.S. equities wobble into year-end. Energy stocks held up as the S&P 500 ETF slipped about 0.4%.
It also comes as investors head into 2026 debating whether oversupply pressures will cap crude, making any supply-disruption headline more market-moving than usual. Thin liquidity — fewer buyers and sellers during holiday trading — can amplify price moves.
Exxon traded between $119.41 and $121.29 on the session, with volume running lighter than typical for a full day.
Other oil-linked names rose in tandem. Chevron gained about 0.9% and ConocoPhillips added about 0.8%.
Crude prices jumped more than $1 a barrel earlier in the day, with Brent crude futures — contracts that track expected prices for delivery later — up 2.2% and U.S. West Texas Intermediate up 2.3%, Reuters reported.
“Energy markets moved higher as geopolitical developments lent support to crude prices,” said IG analyst Axel Rudolph. Reuters
Supply concerns were also in focus after a Reuters report said Kazakhstan’s oil output fell about 6% in December 1–28 versus its November average following a Ukrainian drone strike that damaged a key export terminal. Output figures are commonly reported in bpd, or barrels per day.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal is a major loading point for oil produced by international operators including Exxon, Reuters reported, adding to attention on potential export bottlenecks.
Traders are also watching U.S. petroleum stockpile data for the week to Dec. 19, which has been delayed from its usual release schedule due to the Christmas holiday, according to Reuters. The extended Reuters poll expected crude inventories to fall.
Beyond the daily tape, investors are weighing the broader setup for oil. A Reuters commentary published Monday said crude fell nearly 20% in 2025 to around $60 a barrel as supply growth outpaced demand, citing forecasts that point to a potential 2026 surplus.
Exxon’s operating results and cash returns tend to strengthen when crude prices rise, partly offsetting weak periods in refining and chemicals for the integrated major — a company that produces oil and gas and also refines and sells fuels and chemicals. Exxon reported third-quarter earnings of $7.5 billion and said shareholder distributions totaled $9.4 billion for the quarter.
For the rest of Monday’s session, traders will likely keep Exxon and other big oil names tethered to crude headlines and inventory expectations, with attention on whether Exxon can hold near the day’s $121.29 high.
