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US stocks rose on Monday as investors kept buying technology shares even as Venezuela’s leadership crisis raised geopolitical questions. Oil and gold climbed, while Treasury yields eased, as investors balanced risk appetite with demand for protection at the week’s start. Trading reflected demand for both growth assets and traditional havens.
As of 12:30 a.m. New York time, the S&P 500 gained 0.7%, and the NASDAQ 100 rose 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.5% and set a record. In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 advanced 0.5%, and the MSCI World Index rose 0.7%.
Large technology stocks led early advances, with investors still focused on artificial intelligence spending and data-center buildouts. Strength in megacaps helped lift the Nasdaq 100 and supported the broader S&P 500 move. Market participants treated AI-linked earnings and capex signals as the main drivers.
Energy shares also climbed after President Donald Trump outlined a Venezuela oil plan. He said US oil companies could help revive the industry after the weekend capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Chevron traded higher, while ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil rose alongside oil-services firms.
Crude oil moved higher as traders weighed the outlook for Venezuelan production and potential policy changes. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.3% to $58.08 a barrel, and Brent also gained. Analysts noted that a full industry rebuild could take years and require large capital spending.
Gold rallied as investors added protection against geopolitical surprises. Spot gold jumped 2.5% to $4,438.88 an ounce and traded above $4,400 during the session. The move came even as equities climbed, highlighting mixed positioning.
Venezuela’s distressed bonds traded higher as investors priced a greater chance of policy shifts and eventual debt talks. Defaulted sovereign and PDVSA notes traded around 23 to 33 cents on the dollar after months of gains. Acting president Delcy Rodríguez urged engagement with the US after her initial condemnation of Maduro’s capture.
Currency moves stayed measured, and the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index held little changed. The euro slipped 0.2% to $1.1695. The pound gained 0.3% to $1.3493, and the yen strengthened 0.2% to 156.50 per dollar.
US bonds rallied as investors assessed whether higher risk would increase demand for Treasuries. The 10-year Treasury yield fell two basis points to 4.17%. Germany’s 10-year yield dropped two basis points to 2.88%, and Britain’s fell three basis points to 4.51%.
Equity volatility ticked up, yet it stayed near a five-year low. Some portfolio managers favored targeted hedges over broad risk cuts. The price of volatility remained a key variable for tactical positioning.
Crypto prices rose alongside risk assets. Bitcoin gained 2.6% to $93,575.01, and Ether advanced 1.2% to $3,179.65. Traders tracked whether stronger equities and lower yields would support further demand.
A new US report showed manufacturing activity contracted in December by the most since 2024. The data added pressure on the outlook for factories and inventories. Investors now turn to a heavy calendar that could reset rate expectations.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is due to publish the job openings, quits, and layoffs for the month of November. Then, the crucial data for the labor market and wages is the jobs report for the month of December, which is to be released next Friday. Subsequent data will come in the form of the housing starts data from the government. Additionally, the University of Michigan is to publish the January Consumer Sentiment Index.
Corporate news also influenced trading. Coinbase shares rose after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock, citing growth in subscription and services revenue. Precious metals miners also climbed as gold rose, supporting firms across the sector.
Investors also tracked capital markets headlines after uneven IPO performance in 2025. Analysts reported a weighted average gain of 13.9% for new listings, versus 16% for the S&P 500. Separately, Saks Global Enterprises sought a loan of up to $1 billion to support near-term liquidity.
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