- Federal authorities are examining whether market participants engaged in illegal manipulation during recent periods of high volatility
- The probe follows crude oil prices surging above 107 dollars per barrel due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East
- Lawmakers have called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate potential price gouging by energy companies benefiting from the crisis
- Analysts from Deutsche Bank report that market nervousness is increasing as diplomatic solutions for regional conflicts appear distant
- The International Energy Agency warned that global oil reserves are shrinking rapidly as stakeholders struggle with mounting supply losses
Department of Justice investigates oil market trading amid extreme price swings
May 13, 2026, 4:20:56 PM UTC(4 hours ago)
Impact: Medium
Affected Assets
Sources
From:@DeItaone
DOJ PROBES SUSPECTED OIL MARKET TRADING DURING PRICE SWINGS
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating potentially suspicious trading linked to recent volatility in oil markets, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The probe, first reported by ABC News, follows Reuters’ earlier reporting on unusual trading activity.
Oil markets have been highly volatile amid the Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have tightened global supply and driven prices higher.
