5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

• Oil and gas stocks surged 3-9% premarket after Trump called for American companies to invest in rebuilding Venezuelan oil production, with Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and major oilfield service providers leading gains.
• Gold futures jumped over 2% to $4,420 per ounce and silver futures rose 4.5% to $74.20 per ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets amid uncertainty over Venezuela developments, approaching record highs set in late December.
• AI-related chip stocks including Nvidia, Intel, Micron, Broadcom, and AMD climbed premarket as investors await Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's 4 p.m. ET press conference at CES, while scrutiny continues over returns on massive data center investments.

Market Summary: Stock Futures Rise on Venezuela Developments and Tech Focus

Key Market Movements

Stock futures pointed to a higher open Monday, with S&P 500 futures up 0.3% and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.7%, while Dow futures traded near unchanged. The major indexes snapped four-day losing streaks on Friday in the first trading session of 2026. Bitcoin climbed to $92,800, approaching monthly highs, while the 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.17% from 4.19%.

Venezuela Impact on Energy Sector

Oil stocks surged 3-9% in premarket trading following the Trump administration's weekend capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who now faces drug trafficking charges in the U.S. President Trump announced intentions for American oil companies to invest in rebuilding Venezuela's oil production capacity. Major gainers included Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and SLB. However, industry experts suggest companies may wait for political clarity before committing investments.

Safe-Haven Assets Rally

The Venezuela uncertainty drove investors toward safe-haven assets. Gold futures jumped over 2% to $4,420 per ounce, while silver futures surged 4.5% to $74.20 per ounce. Both metals are approaching record highs set in late December—gold reached $4,580 on December 26, and silver hit $82.67 on December 29.

Tech Sector in Focus

AI-related stocks including Nvidia (NVDA), Intel, Micron, Broadcom, and AMD gained in premarket trading. Investor attention centers on the CES consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas, where Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled for a press conference at 4 p.m. ET Monday. The sector faces ongoing scrutiny regarding returns on massive data center investments.

Corporate Action

Comcast's (CMCSA) cable channel spin-off Versant debuts today on Nasdaq, comprising CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), USA Network, and Golf Channel.