At the start of the first trading week of 2026, global markets faced an extraordinary geopolitical event: the capture of Venezuela’s president by U.S. forces and the establishment of temporary control over the country. Despite Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, financial markets showed remarkable resilience.
Asia-Pacific equity markets such as the Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi gained more than 3%, driven by strong fundamentals including artificial intelligence investment. European and U.S. futures also opened positively, signaling continued risk appetite among investors.
Oil markets remained relatively calm. Brent crude hovered around $60 per barrel, reflecting expectations that Venezuela’s oil production will not recover quickly due to long-term infrastructure deterioration.
Currencies and safe-haven assets reacted more clearly. The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies, while gold prices increased by approximately 2%, highlighting cautious positioning amid geopolitical uncertainty.
From a medium-term perspective, the situation raises concerns around political risk, emerging market premiums, and potential changes in global energy supply if Venezuela’s oil sector opens under new governance.
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