A Reuters report has intensified suspicions of market manipulation following massive bets in the oil market totaling millions of dollars just before a ceasefire announcement. It was widely speculated that news regarding the Iran war and ceasefire was being used to manipulate the market for significant financial gain, while the report details how crude oil trades were executed right before the announcement, resulting in approximately $430 million being generated from the F&O market in just 2 minutes.
$430 Million Earned in Just 2 Minutes
This wasn't an isolated incident. 1 billion. Just before the ceasefire announcement, 4,260 lots of crude oil were sold in a single stroke, causing oil prices to plummet by up to 15%, which resulted in a profit of approximately $430 million. S. President Donald Trump announced he would extend the ceasefire with Iran, traders placed $430 million in bets on falling oil prices.
Key Highlights of Market Manipulation
Precise Timing and Price Movements
According to LSEG data, approximately 4,260 lots of Brent crude oil were sold between 19:54 and 19:56 GMT, with a total value of about $430 million. This transaction occurred during low-volume post-market trading, which amplifies the impact on prices. 66.83. The bets placed before this decline yielded massive profits for the traders.
Previous Instances of Suspicious Trading
This isn't the first time such patterns have emerged. Several large bets were observed during March and April. On March 23, a bet of approximately $500 million was placed before Trump's announcement to postpone potential military action. Similarly, on April 7, $950 million was wagered before a ceasefire announcement, and on April 17, $760 million in bets were placed before news related to the Strait of Hormuz. 1 billion, deepening suspicions of trading based on inside information. S, while agencies are currently investigating the matter. Although no party has officially confirmed market manipulation, the precision of these bets before major announcements has raised serious questions about market transparency.