August 06, 2020

Brown Presses CFTC For A Comprehensive Review of Possible Oil Market Manipulation; Says The Agency Must Do More To Protect Consumers From Market Abuses

Brown’s Letter Comes On The Heels Of Reports That The Recent Crash In Oil Prices Could Have Been Manipulation

Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) – ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today sent a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Heath Tarbert pushing for the agency to complete a thorough review of the unusual trading in oil futures that occurred earlier this year. The Senator citedrecent press reports that alleged one trading firm was central to the market conditions that caused the price of oil to fall below zero for the first time. 

“The integrity of our financial markets is critical to protect American consumers from needless volatility and harmful manipulation that could ultimately lead to higher prices at a time when families across the country are under financial strain.  I look forward to the timely completion of a thorough and comprehensive report, and for the CFTC to pursue enforcement actions, as necessary,” said Senator Brown.

A copy of the letter appears here and below:

The Honorable Heath Tarbert

Chair

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Dear Chair Tarbert:

I write regarding the unusual trading in oil futures that occurred in April and the recent press reports that one trading firm was central to the market conditions that caused the price of oil to fall below zero for the first time. 

As you know, on April 20, the price of a barrel of oil collapsed from $18 to negative $37, including sinking $40 over the course of an hour. The speed at which the oil price fell into negative territory creates the impression of a market susceptible to manipulation and needing additional regulatory safeguards. These concerns increase when such price swings are potentially attributable to one market participant.

While I understand the CFTC will release a detailed report on the oil price crash in the coming months, your initial comments in April, featured on CNBC, that “this situation does appear to be a fundamental supply and demand issue,”  were at a minimum premature and now seem incorrect. Even your subsequent comments understate the potential for market manipulation as the cause of the oil price crash. Your statement last month that, “we can’t really say one way or the other at this point whether there in fact was any wrongdoing,”  suggests that your analysis must continue, including careful consideration of the recently reported details.

The integrity of our financial markets is critical to protect American consumers from needless volatility and harmful manipulation that could ultimately lead to higher prices at a time when families across the country are under financial strain. I look forward to the timely completion of a thorough and comprehensive report and for the CFTC to pursue enforcement actions, as necessary.

 

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