News over the weekend added a fresh dose of geopolitical uncertainty for investors to digest as the first full week of trading in 2026 gets underway. In the early-morning hours Saturday, the U.S. launched a military strike on Venezuela and extracted President Nicolás Maduro in order for him to face criminal charges in the U.S. President Donald Trump later said that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela until an orderly transition is possible, and that U.S. oil companies would rebuild the oil infrastructure of the South American country. It’s unclear what shape U.S involvement in the oil-rich nation will take. Investors will be looking for more details from the Trump administration and closely watching developments on the ground in the coming days. The oil market, in particular, could be subject to volatility.
Investors this week will also be watching for employment data that could have an impact on interest rates. Market watchers will also get a look at data that was delayed by the government shutdown, including reports on housing starts, factory orders and the U.S. trade deficit. On the corporate calendar, data center operator Applied Digital will give investors a look at the AI industry, while a handful of grocery and food company earnings will provide insight into consumer spending levels.
Jobs Data Come as Officials Eye Labor Market
Though some government agencies are still processing reports that were delayed by last year’s government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the December jobs report on Friday as originally scheduled. Federal Reserve officials have indicated that a weakening labor market could lead the central bank to enact more interest rate cuts this year. Last week’s release of December meeting minutes showed that Fed officials are divided on the path of interest rates and would be closely monitoring upcoming data on the labor market. Reports this week on job openings, private sector hiring and weekly jobless claims will help paint a picture of the current labor market landscape.
Several reports that were delayed by the shutdown will be released this week, including October data on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders. There’s also data about housing starts in September and October, as well as the third-quarter report on U.S. productivity and costs. Other releases include a preliminary January report on consumer sentiment and purchasing manager index (PMI) reports on the manufacturing and services sectors.
Technology Firms Will Provide Updates This Week
While there’s a limited schedule for earnings reports this week, there will still be an opportunity for investors to monitor the AI trade with Applied Digital’s (APLD) Wednesday report. Shares of the data center service provider have surged as spending on AI infrastructure remains robust. Investors will be watching Applied Digital’s quarterly earnings for signals that AI spending remains strong. IT-services provider TD Synnex‘s (SNX) earnings will also provide a look at tech spending.
Food and Beverage Manufacturers Report Earnings This Week
Constellation Brands reports earnings on Wednesday. The Corona beer maker has warned that slowing beer sales and tariff pressures are creating headwinds. Cannabis distributor and beer maker Tilray Brands (TLRY), which recently announced a reverse stock split, is due to release its results on Thursday. Company officials could also discuss the impact of President Donald Trump’s move to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous substance. Reports from grocer Albertsons Companies (ACI), chicken egg producer Cal‑Maine Foods (CALM) and Atkins brand owner Simply Good Foods (SMPL) will give investors insight into consumer spending on food products.