We previously detailed the manipulations ("spoofing") that has occurred in oil futures [4] but yesterday 'took the biscuit' in the outright bluntness of the algo's efforts to manage WTI Crude. As Nanex exposed, a 'wild HFT algo' oscillated oil 21 cents a dozen times in 18 seconds and the 'spoofing' continues. It appears though that after the squeeze of the last week, selling pressure has returned with WTI testing the $48 handle once again. But, but, but, the man on the TV news said oil prices had stabilized and bottom'd... it appears "it's a Brian Williams world" as business media anchors mis-remember their exuberant bottom-calls from last week.
Yesterday's algo manipulations...
[5]
And Today's tumble...
[6]
Charts: @NanexLLC and Bloomberg
