Oil, stock trading spikes before Trump's Iran remarks spark insider trading suspicions

Thousands of oil contracts -- a far higher volume than normal -- were traded 15 minutes before Trump pledged to halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, sending prices tumbling. Traders who bet on prices dropping ahead of the announcement would likely have profited from Trump's sudden reversal, prompting analysts to question whether some market…

Key takeaways

Quick scan — what you need to know:

• Thousands of oil contracts -- a far higher volume than normal -- were traded 15 minutes before Trump pledged to halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, sending prices tumbling.
• Traders who bet on prices dropping ahead of the announcement would likely have profited from Trump's sudden reversal, prompting analysts to question whether some market participants had acted on…
• FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade speaks with Meziane Lasfer, Professor of Finance at Bayes Business School, City University.

Background

What led here, in plain terms:

• Traders who bet on prices dropping ahead of the announcement would likely have profited from Trump's sudden reversal, prompting analysts to question whether some market participants had acted on…
• FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade speaks with Meziane Lasfer, Professor of Finance at Bayes Business School, City University.

Why it matters

Why readers and decision-makers should care:

• FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade speaks with Meziane Lasfer, Professor of Finance at Bayes Business School, City University.
• Thousands of oil contracts -- a far higher volume than normal -- were traded 15 minutes before Trump pledged to halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, sending prices tumbling.
• Traders who bet on prices dropping ahead of the announcement would likely have profited from Trump's sudden reversal, prompting analysts to question whether some market participants had acted on…