Tags: brokers | traders | volatile | oil | futures

Brokers Trying to Keep Some Traders Away from Volatile Oil Futures

Brokers Trying to Keep Some Traders Away from Volatile Oil Futures
(Brainstormoff/Dreamstime)

Thursday, 23 April 2020 10:46 AM EDT

At least two brokerages are limiting the ability of some clients to enter into new trades in the most active oil benchmarks after an epic meltdown in crude this week dragged prices into negative territory for the first time.

The futures division of brokerage INTL FCStone Financial Inc. told clients with accounts totaling less than $5 million that they should not place any new trades in Nymex West Texas Intermediate and ICE Brent crude contracts for June delivery, effective Wednesday, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg.

“The reason for taking this action is for the best interest of our customers during these very unprecedented market conditions,” according to the memo.

The firm is also actively reviewing limits for clients who have more than $5 million and may adjust accordingly.

“Given the extreme and unpredictable volatility in the markets, we are taking action to protect our smaller clients and make sure they are aware of the risks they are assuming,” a company spokesman said via email.

Meanwhile, Marex Spectron is also restricting customers from taking new positions in the same contracts, the company confirmed.

The limit for new trades is the latest example of financial firms trying to curb losses and reduce risk as the spread of the coronavirus has shut down economies around the world, causing oil demand to collapse. Investors have raised fears for months that crude storage filling to the brim would be disastrous for prices, as supply dwarfs demand.

Those concerns came into full force on Monday when U.S. oil futures for May delivery tumbled below $0 for the first time, settling at minus $37.63 a barrel. The May contract expired on Tuesday, with the most active contracts now for June delivery.

Investors fear that what happened in May could repeat itself in June, a move that’s already prompted a number of retail products to move their positions further into the curve.

© Copyright 2024 Bloomberg News. All rights reserved.


Markets
At least two brokerages are limiting the ability of some clients to enter into new trades in the most active oil benchmarks after an epic meltdown in crude this week dragged prices into negative territory for the first time.
brokers, traders, volatile, oil, futures
316
2020-46-23
Thursday, 23 April 2020 10:46 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
Get Newsmax Text Alerts
TOP

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
MONEYNEWS.COM
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
NEWSMAX.COM
MONEYNEWS.COM
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved