Skip to content

Article

Venezuela Sovereign Bonds Rise as Much as 10 Points to Low 40s After Maduro’s Capture by the US

Share on X (opens in a new window) Share on Facebook (opens in a new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens in a new window)

Venezuela’s defaulted sovereign bonds have jumped up to 10 points to the low 40s this morning in the first trading session since the U.S. captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

The 12.75% 2022 and 9.25% 2027 bonds are up nine points at 40/42 while Venezuela’s 11.95% 2031 paper has also climbed to 40-42 from 32 cents on Friday Jan. 2 and 17 cents a year ago. The 11.75 2026s and 13.625% 2018 bonds are also quoted at 40-42 cents, according to Solve. Venezuela defaulted on its notes in 2017 and the debt had rallied in price during 2025 as the Trump administration piled new pressure on the Maduro government.

The U.S. Department of War said in a statement over the weekend that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, will now face criminal court proceedings tied to a 2020 indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice on multiple federal charges, including “narco-terrorism” and drug trafficking. The Maduros are expected to appear in a New York court later today.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC that the capture of Maduro followed “very generous offers” from Washington, which the Venezuelan leader declined, leading to the American military intervention on Jan. 3. “We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction because not only do we think it’s good for the people of Venezuela, it’s in our national interest,” Rubio said, adding he expects the Venezuelan authorities to now be “more compliant” than Maduro had been.

Maduro’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is scheduled to be sworn in as Venezuela’s new president today. According to President Donald Trump, the United States will now “run” Venezuela until a safe transition can be achieved to a “legitimate replacement.” President Trump has reportedly warned Rodriguez she could pay “a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she “doesn’t do what’s right”.

The capture of Maduro has been condemned by China, which expressed “grave concern” saying Washington’s “move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”

This publication has been prepared by Octus, Inc. or one of its affiliates (collectively, "Octus") and is being provided to the recipient in connection with a subscription to one or more Octus products. Recipient’s use of the Octus platform is subject to Octus Terms of Use or the user agreement pursuant to which the recipient has access to the platform (the “Applicable Terms”). The recipient of this publication may not redistribute or republish any portion of the information contained herein other than with Octus express written consent or in accordance with the Applicable Terms. The information in this publication is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, investment, accounting or other professional advice on any subject matter or as a substitute for such advice. The recipient of this publication must comply with all applicable laws, including laws regarding the purchase and sale of securities. Octus obtains information from a wide variety of sources, which it believes to be reliable, but Octus does not make any representation, warranty, or certification as to the materiality or public availability of the information in this publication or that such information is accurate, complete, comprehensive or fit for a particular purpose. Recipients must make their own decisions about investment strategies or securities mentioned in this publication. Octus and its officers, directors, partners and employees expressly disclaim all liability relating to or arising from actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information contained in this publication. © 2025 Octus. All rights reserved. Octus(TM) and the Octus logo are trademarks of Octus Intelligence, Inc.