5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 1/5/2026

Summary

Squawk Pod – “5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 1/5/2026”

Podcast: Squawk Pod (CNBC)
Hosts: Becky Quick, Joe Kernen, Andrew Ross Sorkin
Date: January 5, 2026
Summary Created By: [Your Summarizer Here]

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Episode Overview

On this edition of Squawk Pod, the hosts distill the top financial and market-moving stories you must know before Wall Street’s opening bell. The episode features a rapid-fire summary of headlines—ranging from surging oil stocks and airline operations to Fed policy signals and box office numbers—sprinkled with the hosts’ signature banter and offbeat pop culture takes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Capture of Venezuelan Leader and Oil Markets

[01:00]

• Chevron and ExxonMobil shares are surging following the U.S.'s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
  • Chevron shares: Up 7.5%
  • ExxonMobil shares: Up 4.25%
• Quote (Becky Quick):

  "President Trump wants U.S. oil companies to lend their expertise and their money in terms of pumping Venezuelan crude." [01:10]

• Chevron is the only U.S. major currently pumping in Venezuela; Analysts eye expanded access for U.S. oil firms.

2. Airlines Respond to US-Venezuela Operation

[01:20]

• Airlines are "adding extra flights to ferry passengers stranded in the Caribbean following the US Operation in Venezuela."
• Focus is on rapidly alleviating travel disruptions for affected travelers.

3. Fed Policy Outlook from Philadelphia’s Anna Paulson

[01:30]

• Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson offers insight into U.S. interest rates:
  • Says more interest rate cuts could be a ways off as the Fed monitors macro trends.
  • Expects:
    • Inflation to moderate
    • Labor market to stabilize
    • Growth to come in around 2% this year
  • If all materializes, "modest adjustments to the funds rate could be appropriate later this year."
• Quote (Becky Quick):

  "At a speech in Philadelphia, Paulson said that she sees inflation moderating, the labor market stabilizing and growth coming in around 2% this year." [01:38]

4. Tesla’s Volatile Stock Movement

[01:48]

• Tesla stock is up 1.6% pre-market after a significant drop the previous session.
  • Tesla reported Q4 deliveries that missed Wall Street expectations.
  • Shares fell more than 2.5% on Friday as a result.
• Quote (Becky Quick):

  "Check out shares of Tesla this morning. Right now it looks like that stock is moving up by about 1.6%." [01:48]

5. Box Office Update: Avatar 3 Reigns

[01:55]

• Third Avatar film continues its box office dominance:
  • Earned about $40 million in the weekend U.S. box office
  • Cumulative worldwide gross: $1 billion
• Casual Banter:
  • Joe Kernen: "Did you see Avatar? Anybody I did."
  • Becky Quick: "And it was good, but it was long." [02:48-02:51]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Anna Paulson’s Fed Appointment

[02:27]

• Andrew Ross Sorkin discusses the new Philadelphia Fed President:
  • "Anna Paulson okay. Yeah. All right. I was just figuring out who's who...Anna Paulson replacing...Patrick Harker." [02:27-02:36]

Avatar 3—The Crew’s Cinematic Takes

[02:48-02:57]

• Joe Kernen: "Did you see Avatar? Anybody I did."
• Becky Quick: "And it was good, but it was long."
• Andrew Ross Sorkin: "I would rather...Stick needles in my eyes and a...Half hour of previews before that..."
• Lighthearted quipping continues about cinema:
  • Andrew: "You saw Marty Supreme. Phenomenal."
  • Joe & Andrew, repeatedly: "Phenomenal."
  • Joe: "My son says he's extraordinary."
  • Andrew: "Yeah, he may win, but it’s such a disjointed, crazy, crazy story." [03:26-03:36]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Chevron/ExxonMobil & Venezuela – [01:00–01:20]
• Airlines & Caribbean Flights – [01:20–01:30]
• Philadelphia Fed/Anna Paulson Commentary – [01:30–01:48]
• Tesla Post-Deliveries Movement – [01:48–01:55]
• Avatar Box Office & Crew Banter – [01:55–03:36]

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Conclusion: Essential Pre-Bell Takeaways

This episode packs a dynamic preview of the day’s financial movers, mixing hard news (Venezuelan upheaval, Fed policy, Tesla’s volatility) with the anchors’ signature banter on pop culture phenomena like Avatar. For investors, the clear message is: Watch oil, aviation, Fed signals, and tech momentum—as well as the ever-volatile box office.

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For full context and the spirited debates, listen to Squawk Pod wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

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[Becky Quick]

Hi, I'm Becky Quick, co host of Squawk Box with Andrew Ross Sorkin and Joe Kernan. And this is five things to know before the opening bell. First up, Chevron and ExxonMobil shares both rising this morning following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. President Trump wants U.S. oil companies to lend their expertise and their money in terms of pumping Venezuelan crude. Chevron is the only US Major currently pumping in Venezuela. Its shares are up by 7 and a half percent, while ExxonMobil shares are up by 4 and a quarter percent. Airlines adding extra flights to ferry passengers stranded in the Caribbean following the US Operation in Venezuela. And Philadelphia, Fed President Anna Paulson says that more interest rate cuts could be a ways off while central bankers monitor the economy. At a speech in Philadelphia, Paulson said that she sees inflation moderating, the labor market stabilizing and growth coming in around 2% this year. She said if that happens, some modest adjustments to the funds rate could be appropriate later this year. Check out shares of Tesla this morning. Right now it looks like that stock is moving up by about 1.6%. It fell more than 2 1/2% on Friday after Tesla reported fourth quarter deliveries that missed expectations. And the third Avatar film maintaining its box office dominance, earning about $40 million at the weekend US box office, it's now grossed a billion dollars worldwide.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Anna Paulson okay. Yeah. All right. I was just getting figuring out who's who.

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Yeah. No, hey.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Putting that in my mind. Putting that in my brain, Andrew. Putting that in my. Anna Paulson replacing Was it Harker or my a guy who I just finally had in my. Patrick Harker.

[Becky Quick]

Yeah.

[Joe Kernen]

Did you see Avatar? Anybody I did.

[Becky Quick]

And it was good, but it was long.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

I would rather.

[Becky Quick]

3 hours and 15 minutes.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Stick needles in my eyes and a.

[Becky Quick]

Half hour of previews before that.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

You saw Marty Supreme. Phenomenal.

[Joe Kernen]

Phenomenal.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Phenomenal.

[Joe Kernen]

Phenomenal.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

You know, all those pock marks on his face were fake.

[Joe Kernen]

Yeah.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

I mean, and the. I mean, I. I thought. I thought Kevin o' Leary did. Did fine.

[Joe Kernen]

I thought Kevin was great.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

He was good. I. What got me. I didn't like the reaction shots at the end where. And he's like. They kept having to show him and he was supposed to be mad. He was supposed to be.

[Joe Kernen]

I thought, great. I thought he was great. I thought Gwyneth was great. I thought they were all great.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

There were sparks coming off Timothy shot. He. He may win for this.

[Joe Kernen]

My son says he's extraordinary.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Yeah, he may win, but it's such a disjointed, crazy, crazy story.

[Becky Quick]

We'll be back later today with Squawk Pod, our daily podcast featuring the best of Squawk Box. Stay tuned to your feed, wherever you get your podcasts and listen anytime.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Hey, Fidelity. How can I remember to invest every month?

[Fidelity App Representative]

With the Fidelity app, you can choose a schedule and set up recurring investments in stocks and ETFs.

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Oh, that sounds easier than I thought.

[Fidelity App Representative]

You got this?

[Andrew Ross Sorkin]

Yeah, I do. Now, where did I put my keys?

[Fidelity App Representative]

You will find them where you left them.

[Comcast Business Representative]

Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Fidelity Brokerage Services, llc. Member nyse, sipc.