CFTC Instructs Staff to Withdraw Oil Trade Analysis

WHO:

Bloomberg - CFTC analysts flagged suspicious trading activities.

Bloomberg - A senior official at the CFTC intervened in the investigation.

WHAT:

Bloomberg - CFTC analysts identified unusually well-timed trading ahead of a post by President Trump.

Bloomberg - Billions of dollars in contracts changed hands in the 15 minutes before President Trump's announcement.

WHERE:

Bloomberg - The trading activities were related to U.S. strikes on Iranian energy facilities.

WHEN:

Bloomberg - The suspicious trading occurred ahead of a March 23 post by President Trump.

WHY:

Bloomberg - The CFTC analysts referred their findings to the enforcement division due to the suspicious nature of the trades.

HOW:

Bloomberg - Analysts flagged the trades and referred their findings to the CFTC’s enforcement division, but were instructed to retract the referral by a senior official.

(UPDATED October 13, 2026 19:08 UTC)

CFTC analysts have flagged suspicious trading activities that occurred just before a post by President Trump on March 23, where billions of dollars in contracts changed hands within a mere 15 minutes prior to the announcement. The trading was linked to U.S. strikes on Iranian energy facilities, prompting the analysts to refer their findings to the enforcement division due to the unusual nature of the trades. However, a senior official at the CFTC intervened in the investigation, instructing the analysts to retract their referral.