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Financial Markets                      01/05 09:28

   

   NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Monday to 
kick off the first full week of the new year, led by energy and technology 
companies.

   The S&P 500 rose 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 504 points, or 
1%, as of 10:01 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.6%.

   Markets in Asia and Europe were mostly higher.

   Energy companies and the oil market were a key focus after U.S. forces 
captured Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro in a weekend raid. The price of 
U.S. crude jumped 1.3% to $58.07 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the 
international standard, rose 1.1% to $61.43 per barrel.

   President Donald Trump has floated a plan for U.S. oil companies to help 
rebuild Venezuela's oil industry. Chevron surged 4.3% and Exxon Mobil rose 1.1% 
for some of the strongest gains in the market.

   After years of neglect and international sanctions, Venezuela's oil industry 
is in disrepair. It could take years and major investments before production 
can increase dramatically. But some analysts expect its current output of about 
1.1 million barrels a day could double or triple fairly quickly.

   Wall Street is also watching the technology sector as the industry kicks off 
its annual CES trade show in Las Vegas. Nvidia rose 0.8% and Intel jumped 2.1%.

   Gold gained 2.5% and the price of silver soared 6.9%. Such assets are often 
considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil.

   Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 
10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.19% late Friday. The yield on the 
two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the 
Federal Reserve will do, fell to 3.47% from 3.48% late Friday.

   ___

   AP business writer Elaine Kurtenbach and AP video journalist Mayuko Ono 
contributed to this report.

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