At Marketing Wiz, our team actively monitors global financial markets to contextualize relevant stories for our clients and their stakeholders. This January, here are three themes that can serve as the foundation for a custom long-form article on behalf of your firm:
The Venezuela Crisis: What’s Next for Oil Markets?
- On January 3rd, US special forces staged a daring military operation in Venezuela, capturing the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. With Maduro facing criminal charges in New York, the fate of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves remains uncertain.
- According to American officials, the US will take control of Venezuela’s oil exports “indefinitely” while working to roll back sanctions on the country. Although Venezuela has some of the world’s largest proven reserves, the country’s oil infrastructure has suffered from years of underinvestment.
- Efforts to scale up Venezuela’s oil production will no doubt face both legal and financial challenges. Nonetheless, new supply could benefit American energy giants while potentially lowering retail prices.
Running of the Bulls: Wall Street’s 2026 Optimism
- If history is any guide, stock forecasters generally struggle to predict market performance. Yet forecasts can still serve as a useful ‘temperature check’ on the broader environment.
- Right now, forecasts indicate that Wall Street’s temperature is bordering on a fever pitch. A recent survey of 26 professional forecasters showed that every single one expected the S&P 500 to continue rising in 2026, with the average prediction showing a 9% gain by year-end.
- While this bullishness is encouraging, it also raises questions about whether optimism has transformed into exuberance. But although risks remain, 2026 could be the fourth year in the market’s extended bull run since the lows of 2022.
The Money Market Question: Rethinking Cash Allocations
- Over the past few years, investors haven’t had to put too much thought into their cash allocations. With money market funds earning rates above 4%, investors could generate decent returns without sacrificing liquidity or stability.
- But in 2026, that dynamic can no longer be taken for granted. With the Fed broadly expected to continue cutting rates, investors may need to be more thoughtful about where they keep their cash to preserve purchasing power over time.
- In some cases, that could mean extending maturities or accepting lower credit quality. Regardless, the era of simple money market allocations may be drawing to a close.
Interested in building out long-form collateral relating to any of these themes? We invite you to reach out to our team today for a discussion of our custom content capabilities.