economy
May 8, 2026
Investigating possible oil trades with privileged information
Portafolio Journalist 05.07.2026 21:16 Updated: 05.07.2026 21:16
TL;DR
- The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating at least four speculative oil futures operations worth over $2.6 billion.
- These operations occurred shortly before President Trump's announcements regarding Iran and the conflict.
- Operators allegedly bet on price drops, which occurred after communications from Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
- The transactions took place just minutes before key announcements like the postponement of attacks, a ceasefire, and the opening of Hormuz.
- Investigators are checking if privileged information was used to gain an advantage in these futures markets.