U.S. stock futures traded in a narrow range Monday evening after markets rallied during regular hours on news of the dramatic weekend raids in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
The S&P 500 Futures climbed 0.07% to 6,948.50 late Monday, while Nasdaq Futures gained 0.10% to 25,603.75, and Dow Futures edged up 0.05% to 48,613.00. The Dow had touched a fresh all-time high during the regular session.
But the real action might be happening behind closed doors this week. According to a Reuters report, the Trump administration is planning to meet with top oil industry executives to discuss ramping up Venezuela's oil production as part of a U.S.-led effort.
Here's where things get interesting. Industry executives have flatly denied holding meetings with the administration about Venezuela, which contradicts President Donald Trump's claims that he's met with all U.S. oil company executives both before and after Maduro's ouster.
One executive told Reuters that industry leaders are wary of group meetings at the White House because they could trigger antitrust concerns. When competitors gather to discuss investments and output collectively, regulators tend to get nervous about collusion.
Energy stocks certainly didn't wait for official meetings to react. Shares rallied Monday, especially for companies with exposure to the Latin American nation.
Chevron Corp. (CVX) surged 5.10% during the regular session and gained another 0.73% overnight. As the only major U.S. energy company currently operating in Venezuela, Chevron stands to benefit most immediately from increased production.
Halliburton Co. (HAL) jumped 7.84% during the day and continued climbing 1.35% after hours. The oilfield services giant is expected to play a crucial role in rebuilding Venezuela's dilapidated oil infrastructure, which has deteriorated dramatically under years of mismanagement and sanctions.
Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) led the pack with a 9.23% gain Monday, adding another 1.03% overnight. Valero's complex refining system is uniquely equipped to process Venezuela's heavy crude, making it a natural beneficiary of renewed Venezuelan oil flows.
The broader picture was more muted. The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) actually declined 1.31% during Monday's session, though it recovered 0.59% overnight.
WTI Crude oil futures for February delivery slipped 0.45% to $58.06 per barrel as the dust began to settle on Maduro's capture. Oil had rallied Monday before giving back some gains.
| Stocks / ETFs | 1 Day Performance | Overnight |
| Chevron Corp. | +5.10% | +0.73% |
| Halliburton Co. | +7.84% | +1.35% |
| Valero Energy Corp. | +9.23% | +1.03% |
| SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | -1.31% | +0.59% |
Asian markets opened higher Monday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 0.88% to 52,291.15, driven by mining and heavy industry stocks. The SSE Composite Index climbed 0.70% to 4,051.61, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 1.30% to 26,690.29.
The U.S Dollar Index (DXY) edged up 0.03% to 98.082 on Monday, showing resilience despite escalating tensions in the region as renewed momentum built in favor of the petrodollar.
Tuesday's calendar is light on major earnings releases, but investors will be watching the S&P's Final U.S. Services PMI and a speech from Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin earlier in the day.
