Oil prices ticked higher in early Asian trading on Monday, while precious metals surged as investors reacted cautiously to the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend operation.
Equity markets opened mostly higher across the region, with benchmark indices in Japan and South Korea extending record-setting runs. US futures were mixed after modest gains on Wall Street late last week.
In early trading, US benchmark crude added 12 cents to $57.44 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 14 cents to $60.89 a barrel.
Venezuela’s oil industry, weakened by years of sanctions and underinvestment, remains in poor shape. Analysts say it could take years and substantial capital to significantly lift output, though some believe production could eventually double or even triple from its current level of around 1.1 million barrels a day.
The US action sent ripples through global markets, boosting demand for safe-haven assets. Gold climbed 2 percent, while silver and platinum each surged about 6 percent.
Asian share markets posted strong gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.9 percent to 51,777.99 in its first session after the year-end break. South Korea’s Kospi rose 2.3 percent to 4,406.55, adding to a record close on Friday. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1 percent to 8,735.60, while Taiwan’s benchmark index advanced 2.1 percent.
In currency trading, the US dollar strengthened 0.2 percent to 157.15 yen, while the euro slipped 0.2 percent to $1.1702.
On Friday, US stocks closed slightly higher in subdued trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent to 6,858.47, building on gains of more than 16 percent in 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7 percent to 48,382.39, while the Nasdaq composite dipped marginally to 23,235.63, weighed down by losses in major technology stocks including Microsoft and Tesla.
Furniture retailers gained after President Donald Trump delayed higher tariffs on upholstered furniture, with shares of RH and Wayfair rising sharply.
The first full trading week of the new year will bring several key US economic reports, including updates on the services sector, consumer sentiment and the labour market. Investors are watching closely for clues on how the US economy ended 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026.