SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1

SSgA Active Trust - State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is trending as escalating geopolitical tensions stemming from the US-Iran conflict drive significant market volatility, sparking a polarized community debate between those predicting a sharp downturn and others advocating to "buy the dip" amid concerns about broader economic impacts like rising oil prices.

Ondas, Inc. engages in the development, marketing, and sale of wireless radio systems for secure, wide area mission-critical business-to-business networks. It operates through the Ondas Networks and Ondas Autonomous Systems segments. The Ondas Networks segment provides wireless connectivity solutions enabling mission-critical Industrial Internet applications and services. The Ondas Autonomous Systems segment designs, develops, and markets commercial drone solutions via the Optimus System and Scout System. The company was founded on December 22, 2014 and is headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL.

Ondas Inc.

Ondas Inc

Ondas Inc. is heavily trending amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with community discussion centered on the potential for massive defense orders and a significant short squeeze for drone stocks. Investors are highlighting Ondas's strategic position in defense initiatives, including its Israeli partnerships and participation in the U.S. Drone Dominance Program, driving expectations for a substantial upside.

Microsoft Corp. engages in the development and support of software, services, devices, and solutions. It operates through the following segments: Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. The Productivity and Business Processes segment is composed of products and services relating to productivity, communication, and information services such as Office Commercial, Office Consumer, LinkedIn, and Dynamics business solutions. The Intelligent Cloud segment consists of public, private, and hybrid server products and cloud services for businesses and developers, as well as enterprise and partner services. The More Personal Computing segment refers to products and services including Windows operating system, Windows cloud services, Surface, HoloLens, personal computer accessories, Xbox hardware, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft News, and Microsoft Edge. The company was founded by Paul Gardner Allen and William Henry Gates, III in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, WA.

Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Corp

Microsoft is trending as OpenAI's newly secured Pentagon deal and significant new funding rounds highlight its expanding AI ecosystem, while the community remains divided over macro geopolitical tensions and concerns about AI's impact on software subscription models, leading to notable stock volatility.

Tesla, Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems. It operates through the Automotive and Energy Generation and Storage segments. The Automotive segment includes the design, development, manufacture, sale, and lease of electric vehicles as well as sales of automotive regulatory credits. The Energy Generation and Storage segment is involved in the design, manufacture, installation, sale, and lease of solar energy generation, energy storage products, and related services and sales of solar energy systems incentives. The company was founded by Jeffrey B. Straubel, Elon Reeve Musk, Martin Eberhard, and Marc Tarpenning on July 1, 2003 and is headquartered in Austin, TX.

Tesla Inc

Community discussion for Tesla is rife with skepticism over its Robotaxi and FSD progress, widely dubbed a "hoax," alongside concerns about declining EV sales and the substantial investment in unproven robotics. This internal pressure is compounded by immediate market uncertainty stemming from escalating geopolitical tensions and rumors of a major SpaceX IPO, leading to intense speculation about Tesla's future valuation and capital flow.

Invesco Capital Management LLC - Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1

QQQ is actively trending as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East fuel a divided investor sentiment. While many foresee a market downturn driven by surging oil prices and inflation worries, a notable segment of the community anticipates a "buy the dip" opportunity, pointing to perceived market resilience.

Viatris, Inc. is a global healthcare company, which engages in the provision of healthcare and pharmaceutical products. It provides medicines and treatments in various therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, oncology, dermatology, eye care, gastroenterology, immunology, and women's healthcare. The firm operates through the following segments: Developed Markets, Greater China, JANZ, and Emerging Markets. The Developed Markets segment consists of operations primarily in North America and Europe. The Greater China segment includes operations in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The JANZ segment covers operations in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The Emerging Markets segment encompasses operations in developing markets and emerging economies including in Asia, the Middle East, South and Central America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. The company was founded on February 14, 2019 and is headquartered in Canonsburg, PA.

Viatris Inc

Viatris is trending following a robust Q4 earnings report that exceeded revenue and EPS expectations, demonstrating strong cash flow generation and leading to multiple analyst price target increases. The community is actively discussing Viatris's solid execution, expanding product pipeline including INPEFA's international rollout, and management's commitment to significant capital returns, viewing a temporary factory production pause as a short-term hurdle rather than a long-term concern.

Zebec's integrated products - real time payroll apps, on-chain payments infrastructure and networked DePIN - serve companies of all sizes, merchants and individuals and help transcend the boundaries of traditional banking and diminish the role of financial intermediaries.

Zebec Network

Zebec Network is trending as its Super App launch and strategic partnerships fuel community discussions about its potential as a PayFi infrastructure, despite market volatility. Investors are actively accumulating ZBCN, anticipating reduced sell pressure after the final token unlock in March and potential institutional adoption with clearer crypto regulations.

Nordic American Tankers Ltd. operates as an international tanker company. It owns and operates Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was founded by Herbjorn Hansson on June 12, 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Nordic American Tankers Ltd

Nordic American Tankers (NAT) is trending as escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, are fueling community expectations for a substantial spike in crude tanker spot rates, which could lead to significant dividend increases.

NVIDIA Corp. engages in the design and manufacture of computer graphics processors, chipsets, and related multimedia software. It operates through the following segments: Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and Compute & Networking. The Graphics segment includes GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, Quadro and NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics, virtual GPU, or vGPU, software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing, automotive platforms for infotainment systems, and Omniverse Enterprise software for building and operating metaverse and 3D internet applications. The Compute & Networking segment consists of Data Center accelerated computing platforms and end-to-end networking platforms including Quantum for InfiniBand and Spectrum for Ethernet, NVIDIA DRIVE automated-driving platform and automotive development agreements, Jetson robotics and other embedded platforms, NVIDIA AI Enterprise and other software, and DGX Cloud software and services. The company was founded by Jen Hsun Huang, Chris A. Malachowsky, and Curtis R. Priem in April 1993 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.

NVIDIA Corp

NVIDIA is a focal point for discussion amid news of an upcoming, highly efficient AI inference chip and the perceived stabilization of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. While many investors see the recent market pullback as a prime buying opportunity, confidently anticipating further gains, others remain cautious, citing concerns over broader market uncertainty and the stock's valuation, predicting continued volatility.

Vishay Precision Group, Inc. engages in the provision of precision measurement and sensing technologies. The firm serves a diverse array of industries and markets, including industrial, test and measurement, transportation, steel, medical, agriculture, avionics, military and space, and consumer. It operates through the following segments: Sensors, Weighing Solutions, Measurement Systems, and Corporate and Other. The Sensors segment is composed of the foil resistor and strain gage operating divisions. The Weighing Solutions segment consists of specialized modules and systems used to precisely measure weight, force torque, and pressure. The Measurement Systems segment includes specialized systems for steel production, materials development, and safety testing. The company was founded on August 28, 2009 and is headquartered in Malvern, PA.

Vishay Precision Group Inc

Vishay Precision Group is trending following its recent earnings, where strong growth in its Humanoids & Strategic Growth Initiatives is overshadowing overall results. The community is actively discussing persistent speculation and recent analyst mentions of a potential transformative partnership supplying precision sensors for major humanoid robot projects like Tesla's Optimus or Figure AI.

statis crypto Watchlist

Bitcoin

Ethereum

Solana

Ripple

Dogecoin

Cardano

statis IN Watchlist

Nifty 50

Nifty Bank

Reliance Industries Ltd.

Zomato Ltd.

Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Motors Ltd.

HDFC Bank Ltd.

ITC Ltd.

Adani Enterprises Ltd

Axis Bank Ltd

Bajaj Finance Ltd

statis US Watchlist

SPDR S&P 500 ETF

Apple Inc.

 Hey, I want to invite you to join Stocktwits. It’s the largest global community of active traders. You’ll get access to the real-time market insights, news, discussion and much more! You can sign up using my unique link below 
 


 has invited you to join Stocktwits

Leveraged Oil & Energy ETFs Soar on Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions

Leveraged oil and energy ETFs surged as crude prices jumped on rising U.S.-Iran tensions. Supply risks boosted bullish bets across leveraged energy funds.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Gold to remain rangebound between $4,860 and $5,140 an ounce, according to Ole Hansen</li><li>Tensions in the Middle East also drove crude prices higher, with Brent crude futures climbing 1.3%</li><li>Federal Reserve officials signaled a potential pause on further rate cuts unless inflation continues to cool later this year.</li></ul>Gold prices inched higher Thursday as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions spurred safe-haven demand, though a firmer dollar capped momentum following cautious signals from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy minutes.Spot gold (XAU/USD) briefly climbed above $5,000 an ounce before retreating and was up 0.3% at $4,988 an ounce at the time of writing. Gold futures for April 2026 deliveries were trading at $5,010 per ounce.Meanwhile, spot silver (XAG/USD) saw a sharper rise, gaining 1.5% to around $78.3 an ounce. Contracts expiring in April 2026 were up 1% at $78.69 per ounce.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Middle-East Risks Escalate</h2>Tensions in the Middle East are escalating after Iran reportedly issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Wednesday warning pilots of potential hazards during missile tests, days after temporarily shutting the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire drills. At the same time, the USS Abraham Lincoln and nearly 80 aircraft were stationed about 700 kilometers off Iran’s coast, while the USS Gerald Ford carrier group moves toward the region. Tehran is also expected to hold joint naval exercises with Russia later this week.The tensions also drove oil prices higher on Thursday, with Brent Crude futures for April 2026 deliveries climbing 1.3% to $71.3 per barrel. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, with a similar expiry, was up around 1.5% at $66 a barrel.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Fed Minutes, Dollar’s Strength Caps Gold’s Upside</h2>Despite geopolitical tailwinds, bullion’s rally stalled after minutes from the January meeting of the Federal Reserve showed policymakers were divided on the path forward for rate cuts.The minutes signal that any additional rate cuts should be put on hold for now and may resume later this year only if inflation continues to ease.“In considering the outlook for monetary policy, several participants commented that further downward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate would likely be appropriate if inflation were to decline in line with their expectations,” according to FOMC minutes released on Wednesday.The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the U.S. dollar against six major currencies, was up 0.1%, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.094%.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Analysts Expect Gold To Remain Rangebound</h2>Veteran commodities expert and Head of Commodity Strategy for Saxo Bank, Ole Hansen, expects gold to remain between $4,860 and $5,140 an ounce, noting that while prices briefly climbed back above $5,000 on rising Middle East tensions, gains stalled as a stronger dollar and higher bond yields followed cautious signals from the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes.<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/Ole_S_Hansen/status/2024379966951940458"><img src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Ole_Hansen_jpg_5308bb13c7.webp" alt="Ole Hansen.jpg"></a>Jamie Dutta of Nemo.money told Reuters on Thursday that “Geopolitical concerns are front and centre” of gold’s price action, with reports suggesting any potential U.S. military action against Iran could last for weeks.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Miners Trade Mixed In Pre-Market</h2>Shares of gold miners traded mixed in pre-market with <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/NEM">Newmont Corp</a>. (NEM) down 0.2% while <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/B">Barrick Gold</a> (B) inched 0.1% higher.Silver miner stocks gained, with <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/PAAS">Pan American Silver Corp.</a> (PAAS) up over 3% and&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/HL">Hecla Mining</a> (HL) climbing 1.5%Read also: <a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/hims-stock-rises-premarket-eucalyptus-acquisition/cZRjw06R4wH">Hims &amp; Hers Health Makes Australia, Japan Foray With $1.15 Billion Eucalyptus Acquisition</a> For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

A selection of gold bars and gold flakes.

Gold Inches Higher As Middle East Tensions Boil, But Fed Caution Limits Upside

Spot gold briefly climbed above $5,000 an ounce before retreating, while spot silver gained 1.5% to $78.3 an ounce.

Equity

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>The White House is expected to finalize a deal with the oil companies on Friday or shortly thereafter, Trump said.</li><li>However, major oil CEOs present at the meeting did not clearly commit to a Venezuela oil plan.</li><li>In a post on Truth Social earlier, the president said that the U.S. had seized a Venezuelan oil tanker and that the oil seized would be sold by the U.S.</li></ul>President Donald Trump at a White House meeting on Friday said that U.S. oil companies will spend their own money to revive Venezuela’s oil market.In a meeting with top executives of oil companies like Chevron (CVX), Exxon Mobil (XOM), and ConocoPhillips (COP), Trump said that the big oil companies would spend “at least $100 billion” to revive Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and drill more oil.The decision on which oil companies will enter Venezuela will be decided by the U.S., Trump said. The White House is expected to finalize a deal with the companies on Friday or shortly thereafter, he added.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Non-Committal Oil Companies</h2>While the CEOs of the major oil companies present at the meeting commented on the plans, they did not clearly commit to a Venezuela oil deal.ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said that a company team would assess the situation in Venezuela, provided they have a security guarantee. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance highlighted the company’s $12 billion loss from the previous business in Venezuela, without committing to operating in the country during the meeting.Chevron, the only major U.S. oil company still operating in Venezuela, provided details of its present operations in the country rather than elaborating on future plans.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Venezuela Operations</h2>Trump said in the meeting that he does not “think” another attack on Venezuela would be necessary, citing the country’s cooperation with the U.S.In a <a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115866908684935165">post</a> on Truth Social earlier on Friday, the president said that the U.S. had seized a Venezuelan oil tanker that had departed without the U.S.’s approval, adding that the oil seized would be sold by the U.S.<h2 class="st-heading-2">China And Russia</h2>The president also said that he would sell oil to China and Russia after his administration took control of Venezuela’s oil reserves. “China can buy all the oil they want from us…Russia can get all the oil they need from us,” he said, adding that the oil companies would be open for business almost immediately.“If we didn’t do this, China would have been there and Russia would have been there,” he added.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Market Reactions</h2><a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/CVX">Shares of CVX</a> closed nearly 2% higher on Friday, with retail sentiment around the stock staying at ‘extremely bullish’ levels amid ‘extremely high’ message levels. Shares of the company edged 0.17% higher in after-market hours at the time of writing.<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/XOM">Shares of XOM</a> closed 1.4% higher with retail sentiment around the stock staying at ‘extremely bullish’ levels amid ‘extremely high’ message levels. <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/COP">Shares of COP</a> closed 1.21% lower on Friday.Meanwhile, U.S. equities closed higher on Friday. The <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF</a> (SPY), which tracks the S&amp;P 500 index, closed 0.66% higher while the <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">Invesco QQQ Trust ETF</a> (QQQ) was up 1% at market close. The <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/DIA">SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust</a> (DIA) closed 0.51% higher. Retail sentiment around the S&amp;P 500 ETF on Stocktwits was in the ‘bullish’ territory.The <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/USO">United States Oil Fund LP</a> (USO) closed 0.34% higher, edging up 0.03% in after-market trade at the time of writing. Meanwhile, the <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/UCO">ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil </a>(UCO) was up 0.3% at market close, remaining relatively unchanged in after-hours.&nbsp;For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com. &nbsp;

An offshore oil platform is seen at sunset on February 9, 2024 near Huntington Beach, California.

Trump Says US Oil Companies To Spend $100 Billion Of Their Money On Venezuela, Do Not Need Federal Funding

President Donald Trump said the oil companies need government protection and security more than federal funding to operate in Venezuela. 

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>The President stated that the U.S. and Venezuela are working well together, especially on rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.</li><li>He also announced that Venezuela will purchase only American-made products with the proceeds from the oil deal.</li><li>Earlier, President Trump stated that the U.S. will purchase up to 50 million barrels of crude oil from Venezuela, worth around $2.8 billion at current market prices.</li></ul>President Donald Trump on Friday announced that Big Oil companies in the United States will invest at least $100 billion to rebuild and modernize the oil infrastructure in Venezuela.In a&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115864395969123502">post</a> on Truth Social, the President announced that he will be meeting all the Big Oil companies'&nbsp;executives&nbsp;at the White House on Friday.“The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” said President Trump, while noting that he has cancelled the previously “expected” second wave of attacks on the country in light of its cooperation.<figure class="image"><img src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Trump_post_jpg_82410079ca.webp" alt="President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social" width="727" height="528"><figcaption>President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social | @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social</figcaption></figure>West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures expiring in February edged up by 0.16% to $57.85 per barrel. Brent crude oil futures expiring in March were up by 0.18% to $62.1 per barrel at the time of writing.President Trump's opening of the door to Big Oil in Venezuela sent the stocks of Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, SLB, and Halliburton&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/chevron-exxon-crude-players-add-50-b-market-cap-as-trump-opens-door-to-big-oil-return-in-venezuela/cmxwirBR4RY">soaring</a> on Monday, adding $50 billion to their valuations during the day.The President also announced that Venezuela will purchase only American-made products with the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/trump-says-venezuela-to-purchase-only-american-made-products-after-oil-deal/cmxzWteR42u">proceeds</a> from the oil deal. Earlier, President Trump stated that the U.S. will purchase up to 50 million barrels of crude oil from Venezuela, worth&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/paul-krugman-trump-venezuela-oil-precious-out-of-date/cmxzPVPR42Q">around $2.8 billion</a> at current market prices.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Iran Protests Grow Stronger</h2>Meanwhile, in Asia, protests in Iran are growing stronger, now in their 12th day. Authorities in the country cut off internet access on Thursday in an attempt to suppress the protests.President Trump came down hard on the Iranian administration, cautioning them against killing protestors.“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots — they have lots of riots — if they do it, we’re going to hit them very hard,” he said in an&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz9i9znw6cg">interview</a> with Hugh Hewitt on his podcast.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Krugman Slams Trump’s Venezuela Raid</h2>Economist Paul Krugman on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/paul-krugman-trump-venezuela-oil-precious-out-of-date/cmxzPVPR42Q">criticized</a> President Trump’s view that crude oil reserves represent a valuable strategic asset, characterizing the perspective as “decades out of date.”“Trump’s belief that he has captured a lucrative prize in Venezuela’s oil fields would be an unrealistic fantasy even if he really were in control of a nation that is, in practice, still controlled by the same thugs who controlled it before Maduro was abducted,” Krugman said, adding that the U.S. raid on Venezuela was for “oil fantasies.”Meanwhile, U.S. equities gained in Friday’s pre-market trade. At the time of writing, the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF</a> (SPY), which tracks the S&amp;P 500 index, was up 0.12%, the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">Invesco QQQ Trust ETF</a> (QQQ) rose 0.22%, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/DIA">SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust</a> (DIA) edged up 0.07%. Retail sentiment around the S&amp;P 500 ETF on Stocktwits was in the ‘bullish’ territory.The&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/USO">United States Oil Fund LP</a> (USO) fell 1.15%, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/UCO">ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil</a> (UCO) declined 1.75% at the time of writing.Also See:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/be-stock-soars-aep-announces-unit-exercised-option-2-65-billion-deal/cmUbQX4R453">BE Stock Jumps After AEP Unit Signs $2.65B Deal For Fuel Cells — Analysts Call It A ‘Meaningful Positive’ For Bloom Energy</a>For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

U.S. President Donald Trump departs after speaking during a House Republican retreat at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 06, 2026 in Washington, DC

Trump Says Big Oil Will Invest At Least $100 Billion To Rebuild Venezuela's Oil Infrastructure

In a post on Truth Social, the President announced that he will be meeting all the Big Oil companies’ executives at the White House on Friday.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Krugman pointed out that the inflation-adjusted price of crude oil had fallen from more than $180 per barrel to nearly $60 per barrel, citing data from the Energy Information Administration.</li><li>Venezuela is currently known to have the largest oil reserves in the world, at nearly 304 billion barrels.</li><li>However, Venezuela’s crude is extremely heavy, resulting in low recovery rates and high production costs, according to Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok.</li></ul>Economist Paul Krugman on Wednesday criticized President Donald Trump’s view that crude oil reserves represent a valuable strategic asset, characterizing the perspective as “decades out of date.”In his latest post, Krugman noted that oil prices remain low by historical standards. Citing data from the Energy Information Administration, he noted that inflation-adjusted crude oil prices have declined from peaks above $180 per barrel in 2008 to roughly $60 per barrel today.“Trump’s belief that he has captured a lucrative prize in Venezuela’s oil fields would be an unrealistic fantasy even if he really were in control of a nation that is, in practice, still controlled by the same thugs who controlled it before Maduro was abducted,” Krugman said.The economist stated that the U.S. raid on Venezuela is not for oil, but rather, for “oil fantasies,” adding that the vast amount of oil reserves that President Trump wants to take from the country do not exist.<h2 class="st-heading-2">The Orinoco Belt Problem</h2>Venezuela is currently known to have the largest oil reserves in the world, at nearly 304 billion barrels. Saudi Arabia comes second, with 267 billion barrels of proven reserves, followed by Iran at 209 billion barrels.However, Venezuela’s crude is extremely heavy, resulting in low recovery rates and high production costs, according to Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok.“Venezuela’s self-reported crude oil reserves tripled from around 100 billion barrels in the early 2000s to 300 billion barrels in the late 2000s due to the reclassification of Orinoco Belt heavy oil as ‘proved,’” said Slok in a note on Tuesday.Another problem with extracting crude from Venezuela’s reserves is the country’s aging oil infrastructure. In an interview&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/energy/trump-venezuela-oil-companies-reimburse-rcna252434">with</a> NBC News on Tuesday, President Trump said a tremendous amount of money is required for the same, but noted that oil companies will do “very well.”<h2 class="st-heading-2">Trump’s 50 Million Barrels Of Oil Claim</h2>In a&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115850817778602689">post</a> on Truth Social on Tuesday, President Trump stated that the interim authorities in Venezuela will turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of “high quality, sanctioned oil” to the U.S.“This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” he said.<figure class="image"><img src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Trump_post_jpg_b8dafeb97c.webp" alt="President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social" width="720" height="590"><figcaption>President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social | @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social</figcaption></figure>For context, the U.S. produced nearly 14 million barrels of crude oil per day in October 2025, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Even at the top end of Trump’s claim of 50 million barrels from Venezuela, it would amount to a little under four days of crude oil production of the United States.At the current WTI crude oil spot price of $56.33 per barrel, the 50 million barrels from Venezuela would be worth $2.8 billion.Meanwhile, U.S. equities were mixed in Wednesday’s opening trade. At the time of writing, the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF</a> (SPY), which tracks the S&amp;P 500 index, edged up by 0.01%, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/DIA">SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust</a> (DIA) declined 0.33%. Retail sentiment around the S&amp;P 500 ETF on Stocktwits was in the ‘bullish’ territory.Also See:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/warner-bros-discovery-board-paramount-offer-significant-risks/cmxyCtxR4c6">NFLX Stock In Spotlight As WBD Board Warns Paramount–Skydance Offer Carries ‘Significant Risks’</a>For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a House Republican retreat at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. 

Paul Krugman Calls Trump’s View Of Oil Reserves ‘Decades Out Of Date’ As President Claims Venezuela Will Turn Over 50 Million Barrels

The economist stated that the U.S. raid on Venezuela is not for oil, but rather, for “oil fantasies,” adding that the vast amount of oil reserves that President Trump wants to take from the country do not exist

Oil ETFs Rally Amid Intensifying U.S.-Venezuela Tension

Oil ETFs are rallying as U.S.-Venezuela maritime clashes lift crude prices, adding a geopolitical risk premium. 

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Supply keeps climbing, led by record U.S. output and rising OPEC+ production.</li><li>Demand remains soft, especially in China, while geopolitical risk premiums fade.</li><li>Lower oil is easing inflation, pushing U.S. gas prices below $3 a gallon.</li></ul>U.S. oil prices fell below $55 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time since February 2021, extending a sharp slide as growing supply runs into softer global demand.West Texas Intermediate crude dipped under $55 in early trading, a level last seen as the pandemic-era downturn was fading. Global benchmark Brent also slid, dropping below $60 a barrel and moving toward its lowest close in nearly five years.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Supply Keeps Rising As Demand Struggles</h2>The move lower is the latest in a series that's accompanied ongoing market floods of oil. U.S. production hit a fresh record of 13.8 million barrels a day of oil and gas equivalent in September, newly released data from the Energy Information Administration show.Meanwhile, OPEC and its allies, led by Russia, have been adding barrels on a monthly basis since April. The group agreed last month to increase output by a further 137,000 barrels a day in December.Demand hasn't kept pace. Consumption growth has been sluggish, especially in China where broader economic weakness has sapped energy demand. The International Energy Agency has warned that the global oil market could be in surplus of more than 4 million barrels a day next year.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Market Signals Add Pressure</h2>Hopes for a potential cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine have also reduced the geopolitical premium that had supported crude prices for much of the conflict.Additional signs of strain are emerging within the oil market itself. Middle Eastern crude prices have moved into a bearish contango structure, while recent strength in gasoline and diesel pricing has faded, removing another source of support for crude.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Analyst Takes</h2>Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz, said in a&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/elerianm/status/2000899148330008670">post on X</a> that the latest move reflects how heavily supply dynamics are weighing on oil.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:595/601;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/el_erian_png_a47b1fab42.webp" alt="el-erian.png" width="595" height="601"><figcaption>&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, James E. Thorne, chief market strategist at Wellington-Altus, said in a&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/DrJStrategy/status/2000863071678685484">post on X</a> that the drop in energy prices is already sending a clear signal. “Best leading indicator of inflation, gasoline,” Thorne said, adding that markets will need to absorb a glut of crude oil in 2026 and that “central bankers are on the wrong side of the trade again.”<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:475/782;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/james_ss_png_662a9514b4.webp" alt="james ss.png" width="475" height="782"><figcaption>&nbsp;</figcaption></figure><h2 class="st-heading-2">Relief At The Pump</h2>Lower crude prices are already filtering through to U.S. consumers. Gasoline prices have dropped below $3 a gallon nationwide, according to GasBuddy, with Christmas Day prices forecast at $2.79, the lowest since 2020, according to a&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/crude-oil-wti-brent-price-today-8e54b1f1">report</a> by Barron’s.GasBuddy estimates the decline from last year’s levels could translate into roughly $521 million in savings for U.S. drivers over the holiday week.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

A person fishes with offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the distance on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California.

US Oil Crashes Below $55 For First Time Since 2021 As Supply Floods The Market

Oversupply, soft demand, and fading geopolitical risk are dragging crude lower while easing inflation pressure.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>The firm reportedly noted an improving oil backdrop in the second half of 2026, and it $1 billion of debt reduction by mid-year as the key catalyst for the shares.</li><li>Advancements in drilling technology and industry consolidation have led to a steady decline in costs in the U.S.</li><li>The company said in November that its capital requirements are projected to decrease by $100 million from 2025 levels next year.</li></ul>Devon Energy stock (DVN) rose over 1.5% in premarket trading on Friday after UBS analysts turned bullish about the oil producer.According to TheFly, UBS upgraded Devon Energy to ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ and raised the price target to $46 from $40. The new price target implies an upside of 19.8% relative to the stock’s previous close.<h2 class="st-heading-2">What Did UBS Say?</h2>The firm reportedly noted an improving oil backdrop in the second half of 2026, and it $1 billion of debt reduction by mid-year as the key catalyst for the shares. Devon's first-half 2026 updates should build confidence that the company will execute the cost-reduction strategy by the end of next year, UBS added.Advancements in drilling technology and industry consolidation have led to a steady decline in costs in the U.S. Several oil and gas companies have curbed their spending to protect their margins amid volatility in commodity prices. The company said in November that its capital requirements are projected to decrease by $100 million from 2025 levels next year.It also stated that production optimization has increased production to 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), exceeding its original guidance.<h2 class="st-heading-2">What Are Stocktwits Users Saying?</h2>Retail sentiment on Stocktwits about <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/DVN">Devon</a> moved to ‘neutral’ from ‘bearish’ territory a day ago.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:712/99;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/DVN_Dec_12_JPG_d3d6473a00.webp" alt="DVN’s Sentiment Meter and Message Volume as of 07:12 a.m. ET on Dec. 12, 2025 | Source: Stocktwits" width="712" height="99"><figcaption>DVN’s Sentiment Meter and Message Volume as of 07:12 a.m. ET on Dec. 12, 2025 | Source: Stocktwits</figcaption></figure>Devon Energy stock has gained 12.5% this year, despite a 20% decline in U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude prices.Also See: <a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/has-roblox-s-viral-growth-faded-jp-morgan-sees-rough-waters-ahead/cLICh6rREF0">Has Roblox’s Viral Growth Faded? JPMorgan Sees Rough Waters Ahead</a>For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

In this photo illustration, the Devon Energy company logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Piotr Swat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Why Is Devon Energy Stock Rising Pre-Market?

According to TheFly, UBS upgraded Devon Energy to ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ and raised the price target on the stock to $46 from $40.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Valero Energy, Marathon Petroleum, and Phillips 66 led the energy sector in gains this year.</li><li>Energy infrastructure firms such as Williams have benefited from the sustained demand for its pipelines and other facilities amid a boom in electricity demand.</li><li>Oil major Exxon has raised its output to 4.8 million barrels per day.</li></ul>The energy sector has been navigating plenty of turbulence this year amid geopolitical tensions, Trump’s tariffs, and wild swings in commodity prices.Oil prices plunged below $60 per barrel after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs. Prices had jumped to nearly $80 per barrel when the conflict between Iran and Israel escalated. At the time of writing, Brent crude fell to about $62 per barrel, as OPEC production continued to add to concerns about oversupply.Stocktwits examines how the 10 largest oil companies in the S&amp;P 500 by market valuation performed this year, as of Dec. 8.&nbsp;<img src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Cez_Fr_top_performing_large_cap_energy_stocks_in_2025_png_be3bd4d9db.webp" alt="CezFr-top-performing-large-cap-energy-stocks-in-2025-.png"><h2 class="st-heading-2">Refiners Stage A Comeback</h2>After grappling with weak margins for several quarters, refiners saw their fortunes reverse this year amid tighter fuel supplies stemming from maintenance work, refinery closures, and geopolitical tensions.The strong fuel prices have also supported Brent crude amid concerns of oversupply. The top three best-performing oil companies in 2025 were the refiners Valero Energy, Phillips 66, and Marathon Petroleum.Valero EnergySan Antonio, Texas-based Valero has led the pack, logging 46.5% gains this year. The company’s refinery utilization rate stood at 97% in the third quarter, backed by strong global demand and persistently low inventory levels despite high utilization rates. The company’s ethanol segment also logged record production in the third quarter, further boosting its earnings.“Although OPEC began unwinding their production cuts in April, much of that volume was offset by an increase in summer power burn. So it wasn't really until September that we saw any meaningful increase in the export volume from OPEC,” Valero Chief Operating Officer Garry Simmons said in October.Marathon PetroleumThe biggest U.S. refiner by capacity has closely followed Valero, with 39.6% gains. However, the stock took a hit earlier in November, after its third-quarter earnings missed Wall Street’s estimates, hurt by weak results in the renewable diesel segment. Its refinery maintenance costs also rose to $400 million during the quarter, up from $287 million, which hit its bottom line.However, the company also projected a resilient fuel market heading into 2026. “Gasoline and distillate inventory levels remain below five-year averages. Current market fundamentals are indicative of tightness in supply and supportive demand, which we believe will persist into 2026,” said Marathon CEO Maryann Mannen.Phillips 66The refiner, up over 27% this year, has been steadily improving its operating performance amid Elliott Investment Management's efforts to effect change at the company. The refiner topped third-quarter earnings in October and logged an average utilization rate of 99%.The company plans to shut its Los Angeles-area refinery by the end of this year, due to uncertain long-term viability, weak margins, increased renewable diesel, high costs, and market shifts.Williams Co.&nbsp;The energy infrastructure firm Williams, which has risen nearly 20% this year, has benefited from the sustained demand for its pipelines and other facilities amid a boom in electricity demand. In October, the company said it would invest $3.1 billion in two projects to capitalize on the robust growth driven by AI data centers.U.S. data centers will require 22% more grid power by the end of 2025 than they did one year earlier, and will need nearly three times as much in 2030, according to a report by the S&amp;P Global. Artificial intelligence data centers are driving a surge in power demand as U.S. firms spend billions to build infrastructure.ExxonMobilThe oil major has gained over 12.4% this year, despite the volatility in commodity prices. Its production has surged to 4.8 million barrels per day, aided by robust output from the Permian Basin and Guyana. Stronger refinery margins have also helped it offset losses from weak oil prices.The company could further bolster its production as it is in talks with the Iraqi government to buy Lukoil’s stake in a giant oilfield following U.S. sanctions on the oil producer.Also See: <a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/antero-resources-to-buy-hg-energy-s-upstream-assets-for-2-8-b/cLIYqWZREme">Antero Resources To Buy HG Energy’s Upstream Assets For $2.8B</a>For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Sunset view with silhouette of an oil rig.

 Best Energy Stocks In 2025

After grappling with weak margins for several quarters, refiners saw their fortunes reverse this year amid tighter fuel supplies.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>OPEC initially began with five countries, which are Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, to end the dominance of the so-called ‘seven sisters’ Western oil companies and maintain stable oil prices.</li><li>Since then, the alliance has expanded to 12 members, including Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;</li><li>OPEC established the OPEC+ coalition with 10 of the world's leading non-OPEC oil producers, including Russia, at the end of 2016.</li></ul>The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established in September 1960, following a conference held in Baghdad with just five founding members. Since then, this intergovernmental body has become one of the most influential forces.OPEC makes up nearly 50% of all the world’s crude exports, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration data. The member countries adjust their production levels to support oil prices or gain market share.Because crude oil is priced globally, even minor decisions made by OPEC can potentially influence larger trends in gasoline prices and inflation.<h2 class="st-heading-2">What Does OPEC Do?</h2>OPEC and its allies hold about 80% of the entire world’s oil reserves. Its dominant market share helps it set the floor for oil prices. It fixes output for a timeframe and asks members to make adjustments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when oil prices plunged due to a sudden drop in demand and a subsequent rise in storage levels, OPEC cut production by 10 million barrels per day, or 10% of the world’s crude supply, to support prices.Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as oil prices spiked, OPEC members reaped the windfalls. Subsequently, as supplies eased, the group once again curtailed output to support prices.<h2 class="st-heading-2">How Many Countries Are There In OPEC?</h2>OPEC initially began with five countries: Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, to end the dominance of the so-called ‘seven sisters’ Western oil companies and support prices. Since then, the alliance has expanded to 12 members.These are 12 OPEC members:<ol><li>Iran</li><li>Iraq</li><li>Venezuela</li><li>Saudi Arabia</li><li>Kuwait</li><li>Algeria</li><li>Libya</li><li>Nigeria</li><li>Congo</li><li>Equatorial Guinea</li><li>Gabon</li><li>United Arab Emirates</li></ol>Some countries have also exited the organization due to disagreements and other issues. These include Qatar, Ecuador, and Angola.OPEC, whose headquarters have been in Vienna since 1965, is run by a board of governors that convenes the OPEC conference and drafts the annual budget. The board has representatives appointed by each member country and has an elected chair. OPEC also has a Secretariat, which includes research and energy studies divisions, and is headed by a secretary-general.OPEC established the OPEC+ coalition with 10 of the world's leading non-OPEC oil producers, including Russia, at the end of 2016.<h2 class="st-heading-2">How OPEC Influences Global Politics?</h2>OPEC’s global presence became hard to ignore in 1973, when the group imposed an oil embargo on the U.S. and other Western allies of Israel during the Arab–Israeli war, sending shockwaves through the global economy. Long lines formed at gas stations in the U.S., affecting livelihoods, and the embargo nearly sent the global economy into a recession.Decades later, the impact of elevated oil prices was once again felt in the U.S. following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and OPEC+ supply cuts. Inflation was a key issue in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, in which Republican candidate Donald Trump defeated incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Does OPEC Still Hold Similar Powers?</h2>Despite maintaining a dominant market share, OPEC’s influence on oil markets has not remained constant throughout its existence. Following the turn of the millennium, developments in fracking technology led the U.S. to become the world’s largest oil producer, and it has maintained that top spot for years.Non-OPEC supplies, especially in places like Guyana in Latin America, have also affected the group’s ability to influence oil markets. A worldwide push toward renewable energy has also cast doubt on the future of this powerful organization.As multiple agencies have projected that oil demand will grow well into the next decade, OPEC and its allies would likely hold sway over the global economy.&nbsp;Also See: <a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/macy-s-lifts-sales-profit-outlook-again-but-ceo-warns-holiday-shoppers-are-still-hesitant/cLIXqxxRE1B">Macy’s Lifts Sales, Profit Outlook Again – But CEO Warns Holiday Shoppers Are Still Hesitant</a>For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

OPEC logo is displayed on a mobile phone screen for illustration photo. Krakow, Poland on February 2nd, 2023.

What Is OPEC And Why Do Its Decisions Matter?

OPEC’s exports account for nearly 50% of all the world’s crude exports, and the organization and its allies hold almost 80% of the world’s oil reserves.

ProShares Trust - ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil 2x Shares

Day trading

Swing trading

Long-term investing

Sitting in cash

Markets have been volatile, with macro headlines and earnings driving sharp moves. How are you positioning right now?

Drop your approach below 👇

UCO
ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil

Feed

News

Sentiment

Fundamentals

Info

Poll

Latest UCO News

UCOProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil