Stocks are soaring to start the first full week of 2026, as investors look past any downsides the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will have on markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is up 641 points midday, earlier hitting a record high and poised to clear 49,000 on a closing basis for the first time ever.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are also enjoying sizable gains, with the oil sector buzzing on the prospects of U.S.-based energy companies accessing Venezuela's energy infrastructure. Oil prices, after some morning sluggishness, are on the rise, with February-dated crude last seen up 1.4%.

Haliburton Co (NYSE: HAL) is seeing an influx of attention in the options pits today, with 54,000 calls and 11,000 puts traded so far, volume that's 13 times the average daily pace. The weekly 1/9 34-strike call is the most popular, with new positions being sold-to-open, while the 32-strike in the same series is also seeing notable attention. HAL is up 8.5% to trade at $32.13, earlier tapping a 12-month peak of $32.94. The equity has added 60% over the past nine months and is headed for its best daily pop since Oct. 21.

One of the top stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today is Oklo Inc (NYSE: OKLO), the nuclear energy startup popping with the broader energy sector. Last seen up 14.3% to trade at $89.00, OKLO is headed for its highest close in over two weeks and looking to tack on to its already impressive, 226% 12-month gain.

Ciena Corp (NYSE: CIEN) is one of the worst NYSE performers today, down 6.9% to trade at $229.10, though the catalyst for the pullback remains unclear. Despite tapping a record high of $252.60 out of the gate, CIEN quickly pared those gains, though has support from its 20-day moving average. Year-over-tear, CIEN is up 176%.

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