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The Dow Jones Industrial Average is soaring over 750 points to a fresh record-high to kick off the first full week of trading in 2026. The index is now hovering at 49,136.87, up 1.5%. Among the stocks buoying the index to a record high are Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) and Amazon, the latter of which is also buoying the Nasdaq Composite today. Chevron is in focus as the sole oil giant operating in Venezuela where it is poised to benefit from U.S. government involvement.
Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) stock is rising 2.5% today to above the $230-per-share threshold. According to reports, Amazon is introducing an Alexa.com website, giving users the ability to access the chatbot assistant online. Additionally, Amazon has unveiled its new TV that is designed to serve as an accent piece to household decor.
Cantor analysts predict semiconductor stocks will lead the market in 2026, pointing to sustained demand for AI computing alongside tight supply across memory and storage. The firm sees tightness in DRAM, NAND and hard disk drives as catalysts for a “capacity-driven upcycle,” which could boost semiconductor capex.
Cantor analysts are bullish on segment leaders, including Nvidia, Micron Technology (Nasdaq: MU), Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) and Lam Research (Nasdaq: LRCX), among others.
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The markets are attempting gains out of the gate on the heels of the U.S. government’s overthrowing of the Venezuelan government. In addition to escalating geopolitical tensions, all eyes will be on technology as the industry’s signature event unfolds: CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the featured speakers will be Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) founder and CEO Jensen Huang, who later today will provide a much anticipated presentation on what’s next for AI.
All three of the major stock market averages are moving higher, including a jump in the Nasdaq Composite to start the week as investors and traders also brace for the latest reading on manufacturing activity due out this week.
Here’s a look at where things stand as of morning trading:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 48,748.10 Up 365.81 (+0.77%)
Nasdaq Composite: 23,379.73 Up 142.37 (+0.61%)
S&P 500: 6,898.82 Up 40.35 (+0.59%)
Strategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) continued building its Bitcoin stack toward the end of the year, adding 1,286 coins between late December and early January, buoying the company’s tally to 673,783 BTC, worth roughly $50.5 billion at last check. MSTR stock is soaring by 6.4% today.
Trump Media (Nasdaq: DJT) stock is rising 1.3% today as President Trump targets the oilfields of Venezuela after the successful capture of Maduro.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is climbing 3.5% higher as the sole energy giant operating in the South American country currently.
Bernstein analysts see strengthening tailwinds for defense stocks, owing to escalating geopolitical tensions and the recent capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro as factors that could push U.S. defense spending higher. The analysts believe upside for defense and engineering stocks could be created from further U.S. involvement in Venezuela. Defense stocks including Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Raytheon (NYSE: RTX) are advancing this morning.
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Gerelyn Terzo is the author of dividend investing handbook "Dividend Investing Strategies: How to Have Your Cake & Eat It Too." A veteran financial journalist, she covers agri-finance for outlets like Global AgInvesting and the broader stock market and personal finance for 24/7 Wall Street. She began at CNBC and later helped launch Fox Business in New York. Gerelyn currently resides in Woodland Park, Colorado and dabbles in nature photography as a hobby.
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