The Department of Justice is allegedly investigating at least four oil market-related trades that have been placed prior to major announcements from President Donald Trump and a top Iranian official regarding the Iran war, according to unnamed sources cited by ABC News.
The traders made over $2.6 billion betting that oil prices would fall right before they actually did, raising suspicion of insider trading, but not proving it.
While the DOJ and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have not commented on an investigation of the trades, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said in testimony before Congress in April that his agency will go after wrongdoers, but did not comment on a possible ongoing investigation.
“I want to be crystal clear: to anyone who engages in fraud, manipulation, or insider trading in any of our markets: we will find you, and you will face the full force of the law,” Selig said in the remarks seen by Reuters.
ABC News obtained information about the trades from the London Stock Exchange Group. They reportedly show that:
On March 23, 15 minutes before Trump announced that he would delay threatened attacks on Iran’s power grid, traders bet more than $500 million that oil prices would fall.
On April 7, hours ahead of a temporary ceasefire announced by Trump, traders bet $960 million that oil prices would fall.
On April 17, 20 minutes before Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media saying that the Strait of Hormuz was open, traders bet $760 million that oil prices would fall.
On April 21, 15 minutes before Trump announced he would extend the ceasefire, traders placed a series of bets worth $430 million that oil prices would fall.
Reuters was first to report on the story. On March 24 they said “Traders bet half a billion dollars on the price of crude only 15 minutes before U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five-day delay to attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure that sent the market plunging, exchange data and Reuters calculations showed.”
On April 15 Reuters reported “The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is examining a series of trades in oil futures placed shortly before major shifts in President Donald Trump’s Iran war policy, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.”
7 Responses
Whats the next biggun when word goes the country???? “Our military has enlisted so much bigger and better than anytime in history, enlistmants????, but, you cant bank on your own team, lol,
ok, So, leave it up to the old fat people with 3 mansions, a few private jets, other shidsss,
Also, look at aoc, bartender making 40k a year , now worth 30 million $, ???? The lies never get old
ohhhh, I get it, queen nawwwwncy pelosi can do it, and trumpy gang can, but, if you dare do it, 2000 years in jail, got it
whats it??? Rules for thee, but not for me, got it
Don’t worry Mr Government Gangsters who cannot find any Government Gangsters is on the Case
Whats the next biggun when word goes the country???? “Our military has enlisted so much bigger and better than anytime in history, enlistmants????, but, you cant bank on your own team, lol,
ok, So, leave it up to the old fat people with 3 mansions, a few private jets, other shidsss,
Also, look at aoc, bartender making 40k a year , now worth 30 million $, ???? The lies never get old
Fav song must be ?Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me
We kindle and char and enflame and ignite
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we’re really a fright
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho
Will they start with the president first?
Shouldve left DOGE alone.. wouldve known in minutes whos behind the insider multi billions in profits?oh wait who fired DOGE?