Futures linked to significant U.S. indices are mostly rising ahead of the commencement of the first complete trading week of the new year. Crude oil prices decline following the U.S. capture of the leader of major oil producer Venezuela, while shares of large U.S. energy companies such as Chevron and ExxonMobil experience gains in after-hours trading. The U.S. dollar also sees an increase, as analysts work to understand the international consequences of the U.S. incursion. In other news, U.S. car sales are reportedly on the rise in 2025, despite demand being challenged by tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and the expiration of tax credits.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against six officials associated with the Iranian intelligence agency for attacking critical infrastructure entities in the U.S.…