Stock Movers Oil Skyrockets; Memory Chips Up; AI Rallying
Jan 5, 2026
US oil stocks surged as President Trump announced plans to revive Venezuela's energy sector, sending Chevron and others soaring. Meanwhile, memory and semiconductor stocks rallied, fueled by optimism in AI demand, with notable gains for Micron and Western Digital. The tech sector showed strong performance, leading the Nasdaq to a record start, while emerging market stocks enjoyed their best year in nearly a decade. Exciting developments in chip makers and significant investments highlight the bullish momentum across these industries.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Venezuela Move Boosts Oil Majors
- U.S. oil majors jumped after signals the U.S. will re-engage in Venezuela's oil sector.
- Chevron led gains as the only major still operating there and the market priced in renewed access and investment.
Services Stocks Also Surge
- Oil field services and integrated oil names rallied strongly alongside majors.
- Halliburton and ConocoPhillips showed outsized premarket gains on expectations of increased activity in Venezuela.
Memory Chips Ride AI Momentum
- Memory and broader chip stocks continued their strong run into 2026 driven by AI demand.
- Micron, Western Digital, SanDisk and equipment makers like ASML and Samsung saw meaningful jumps in early trading.