Asian Equities Soar to Record Highs, Oil Fluctuates Amid Venezuela Tensions

• Asian shares surged to a record, driven by strong performance in technology stocks, marking their best start to a year since 2012.
• Oil prices fluctuated after the capture of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro, with Brent crude initially sliding before climbing.
• Venezuela's key oil infrastructure, including Jose port and Amuay refinery, remains operational despite the political upheaval.
• Analysts view geopolitical shocks like Venezuela's situation as short-lived, with markets quickly pricing and digesting them.
• Investors are also monitoring US Treasury yields and upcoming economic data, including jobs reports and consumer sentiment.

Why It Matters: Asian markets hit records despite Venezuela's political turmoil, as investors focus on fundamentals over geopolitical noise.