AI Stocks Resurge as Nasdaq Adds 0.7%
Stocks are up overall but particularly tech stocks and general defense stocks, which are seeing a surge after Maduro's capture.
Quick overview
- The stock market rose on Monday following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with the Nasdaq climbing 0.7%.
- AI stocks, particularly Nvidia, are experiencing a resurgence, with Nvidia nearing its all-time high at $191 per share.
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. saw a 2.63% increase in stock price after Goldman Sachs raised its price target.
- Defense stocks also surged, with companies like Thales and Palantir seeing significant gains attributed to geopolitical developments.
The stock market ticked upward on Monday after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and AI stocks showed renewed promise as the Nasdaq climbed 0.7%.

All three major U.S. stock indices remained elevated on Monday after news broke that Maduro had been captured by the Trump administration. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% while the Dow Jones held its gains from Friday.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) stock is up 2.63% for Monday in premarket trading, a direct result of Goldman Sachs increasing the price target for the company. This chipmaker is just one of several AI-related stocks that is expecting a bumper year in 2026.
Nvidia and other Tech Stocks Make a Comeback
It appears that the AI stock boom is back in full swing after some uneven weeks in late 2025. Nvidia (NVDA) is the clear leader in this market with the highest market capitalization of any company and not just among AI companies. Nvidia stock is up 1.26% so far for Monday and is hovering near its all-time high at $191 per share. The company is benefitting from good news out of Foxconn, their largest server maker.
Foxconn reported strong 4th quarter earnings that showed that the demand for AI products is still very high and is not disappearing anytime soon. Foxconn also assembles iPhones for Apple, and the company reported a 22% increase in revenue for the most recent quarter. Foxconn brought in $2.6 trillion, which beat out even optimistic estimates for the company’s earnings.
Fear that the AI market is going to bust due to overspending and low profits have been set to the side for now. This tech niche is stronger than ever, and investors are throwing their support behind the key names in the business.
Defense stocks across the globe surged on Monday as well, and it is smart money to bet that Maduro’s capture has everything to do with the increase. Thales, a French air defense company, saw its stock price increase 5%. Palantir (PLTR) added 3.5%, and there has been a minor increase from Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and RTX- all of which are up just under 1%.
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