QQQ leads gains as an ISM miss meets AI and Venezuela updates

QQQ opened the regular session 0.60% above its previous close and stood 0.70% higher by 4:00 a.m. ET the next day. SPY opened 0.20% higher and ended the period up 0.62%, leaving QQQ ahead by 0.08 percentage points. December ISM manufacturing PMI came in at 47.9 versus 48.3 expected. AI hardware headlines included planned 60%-70% server DRAM price increases and Nvidia's Alpamayo and Rubin roadmap. Venezuela coverage focused on planned U.S. talks with oil executives and possible support for rebuilding the country's energy infrastructure.