U.S. Democrats keep pressure on Trump regulators over 'suspicious' trades

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - ‌Two Democratic ​U.S. ​senators have called on the federal commodities markets watchdog to investigate lucrative recent trading activity ‌on oil markets since March 23 that closely ⁠coincided with White House moves in the Iran war, ‌adding to pressure from opposition ‌party members on possible insider trading, according to a letter released Friday.

* The letters from Senator Elizabeth ​Warren, the topDemocrat on the Senate Banking Committee, and Senator SheldonWhitehouse, cited reporting by Reuters ⁠and other news outlets onunusually large commodity and equities trades that ​closelypreceded major White House decisions on Iran, Venezuela andtariff impositions, which experts said was suspicious. * ​Representatives for the U.S. Commodity ‌Futures TradingCommission did not immediately respond to a request for commentbut the agency's ⁠new enforcement director said last month thatpolicing insider trading would be a priority. * The White House has denied ⁠wrongdoing and said Thursday ithad warned staff against leveraging inside ​information. * "This is now a recurring concern during the Trumpadministration," the letter, dated Thursday, said, calling onthe CFTC to furnish answers ‌to series of questions aboutinvestigative steps and market surveillance. * The letter follows last ‌week's query from DemocraticSenators Mark Warner and Adam ⁠Schiff to the Securities ‌andExchange Commission and ​Defense Department Inspector General,raising similar questions.

(Reporting by Douglas Gillison in Washington; Editing by Chizu ‌Nomiyama )

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Zambia says it arrested opposition figures on night of elections
• Iran says two French embassy employees barred from returning
• In Bangkok's gun district, traders say Thai crackdown misses the mark