A burst of oil futures trades minutes before President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Tehran’s energy infrastructure on March 23 is drawing scrutiny from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. More than $800 million in oil futures traded within minutes before Trump’s post, after which U.S. oil prices fell as much as 13%. At least five firms made profits exceeding $5 million, according to trading records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The CFTC is investigating whether traders ac

2026-05-20

A burst of oil futures trades minutes before President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Tehran’s energy infrastructure on March 23 is drawing scrutiny from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. More than $800 million in oil futures traded within minutes before Trump’s post, after which U.S. oil prices fell as much as 13%. At least five firms made profits exceeding $5 million, according to trading records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The CFTC is investigating whether traders acted on advance knowledge of Trump’s decision. Firms under review include Qube Research & Technologies, Forza Fund Ltd., and TotalEnergies’ trading arm Totsa.