Overview
- Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, two days after his capture in a U.S. military operation in Caracas.
- The White House signaled U.S. oil companies can pursue access to Venezuelan reserves, though restoring damaged infrastructure would take years.
- Oil fell about 1% in early Asian trading, with WTI near $56 and Brent around $60, before stabilizing later in the session.
- U.S. stocks gained, led by energy and defense names such as Chevron, Exxon, Halliburton, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, while Paris finished slightly higher.
- Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven reserves yet produces roughly 1 million barrels a day, with December exports already reduced to about 500,000 bpd by U.S. sanctions and a new embargo.