不奇怪。
国际油价瞬间崩盘:或因中国结算因素
2012-09-19 21世纪经济报道
又见闪电崩盘!
这回只用3-4分钟,就让洲际交易所(ICE)布伦特原油期货11月合约价跌去5美元/桶,盘中跌幅一度接近3.5%。众多对冲基金都对这场发生在北京时间9月18日凌晨2点前的原油期货闪电崩盘感到茫然。(细节:国际油价大跌2.4% 盘中1分钟内下跌超过3美元)
“毫无任何征兆。”一位美国对冲基金经理说,多数对冲基金只能临时改变基于美联储QE3实施看涨原油期货的投资策略,止损出局。
知情人士透露,美国商品期货交易委员会(CFTC)已开始与芝加哥期货交易所(CME)和ICE协调,联手调查原油期货闪电崩盘原因,目前要求各大做市商与高频交易运营平台递交其间的交易记录。
“元凶”证伪
截至本报发稿时,美国对冲基金界已列出引发原油期货闪电崩盘的几大“元凶”。
多数对冲基金矛头直指高频交易。在他们看来,在布伦特原油期货崩盘前一分钟,ICE原油期货交易量不到200手,但在崩盘的最早一分钟内,交易量骤增至1万手。能在如此短时间完成高密集量的成交量,只有高频交易能办到。
目前,高频交易占原油期货交易市场日成交量的50%以上,任何一个高频交易平台的技术性故障,都能引发闪电崩盘的多米诺效应。
然而,CME随即声称没有发现任何技术故障引发油价暴跌。
“有一个从数家大型对冲基金传来的说法,称数家大型资产管理机构担心美国即将释放战略石油储备而选择在某个时间集中抛盘,引发闪电崩盘。”上述对冲基金经理透露。
去年6月国际能源机构(IEA)联合释放原油战略储备,一度导致布伦特原油(低硫度品质高)和迪拜原油(高硫度品质低)间的价差从9.2美元/桶迅速回落至3.3美元/桶,令大批买涨两者价差扩大的大型资产管理公司止损离场。
出于担心,大型资产管理公司提前行动,对布伦特原油期货大举高抛低吸调整持仓成本,预防历史重演。不过,美国政府官员大跌后迅速否认即将释放战略石油储备,让猜测不攻自破。
中国结算因素?
迟迟找不到“元凶”,让这场大跌的始作俑者显得神秘。
记者了解到,也有部分对冲基金经理相信,原油期货闪电崩盘与近期外媒报道“中国开始直接使用人民币进行石油进出口的结算”不无关联。
“无论这个消息是否属实,都会极大影响对冲基金对原油期货估值的重新判断。”前述对冲基金经理说,以往他们搜集一定期限全球原油交易金额(以美元计价),估算全球原油市场的供需关系改变趋势,一旦中国采用人民币结算石油进出口,这部分交易数据将无法纳入对冲基金的监测范畴,容易导致中国的原油进口贸易需求量被调低,成为对冲基金大举沽空的新借口。
“其实在页岩气革命令美国从原油进口国逐步转为能源出口国后,对冲基金在原油期货投资方面更像惊弓之鸟。”他强调说。
此次事件再度引起CFTC对高频交易技术故障的强烈关注。
上述知情人士透露,CFTC协同CME、ICE调查该事件的重点,首先是通过收集做市商与高频交易运营平台的原油期货交易记录,确定是否存在高频交易“误操作”。
“通过调查原油期货闪电崩盘事件,CFTC打算强化所有场外交易必须纳入场内交易监管的要求。”他透露,以美国高频交易公司Getco为例,目前Getco花大量精力,研发扫架订单(Intermarket Sweep Order)交易模式,即接收客户订单的交易中心能立刻在场内或OTC执行交易,无需其他报价因素,以满足美国金融监管部门要求所有OTC场外交易必须纳入场内交易监管体系的要求。
Dollar no longer primary oil currency as China begins to trade oil using Yuan
by Kenneth Schortgen Jr., Examiner.com, 12 Sept. 2012
On Sept. 11, Pastor Lindsey Williams, former minister to the global oil companies during the building of the Alaskan pipeline, announced the most significant event to affect the U.S. dollar since its inception as a currency. For the first time since the 1970's, when Henry Kissenger forged a trade agreement with the Royal house of Saud to sell oil using only U.S. dollars, China announced its intention to bypass the dollar for global oil customers and began selling the commodity using their own currency.
Lindsey Williams: "The most significant day in the history of the American dollar, since its inception, happened on Thursday, Sept. 6. On that day, something took place that is going to affect your life, your family, your dinner table more than you can possibly imagine."
"On Thursday, Sept. 6... just a few days ago, China made the official announcement. China said on that day, our banking system is ready, all of our communication systems are ready, all of the transfer systems are ready, and as of that day, Thursday, Sept. 6, any nation in the world that wishes from this point on, to buy, sell, or trade crude oil, can do using the Chinese currency, not the American dollar. - Interview with Natty Bumpo on the Just Measures Radio network, Sept. 11
This announcement by China is one of the most significant sea changes in the global economic and monetary systems, but was barely reported on due to its announcement taking place during the Democratic convention last week. The ramifications of this new action are vast, and could very well be the catalyst that brings down the dollar as the global reserve currency, and change the entire landscape of how the world purchases energy.
Ironically, since Sept. 6, the U.S. dollar has fallen from 81.467 on the index to today's price of 79.73. While analysts will focus on actions taking place in the Eurozone, and expected easing signals from the Federal Reserve on Thursday regarding the fall of the dollar, it is not coincidence that the dollar began to lose strength on the very day of China's announcement.
Since China is not a natural oil producing nation, the question most people will ask is how will the Asian economic power get enough oil to affect dollar hegemony? That question was also answered by Lindsey Williams when he pointed out a new trade agreement that was signed on Sept. 7 between China and Russia, in which the Russian Federation agreed to sell oil to China in any and all amounts they desired.
Lindsey Williams: "This has never happened in the history of crude oil. Since crude oil became the motivating force behind our (U.S.) entire economy, and everything in our lives revolves around crude oil. And since crude oil became the motivating factor behind our economy... never, ever has crude oil been sold, bought, traded, in any country in the world, without using the American dollar."
"Crude oil is the standard currency of the world. Not the Yen, not the Pound, not the Dollar. More money is transferred around the world in crude oil than in any other product."
"On Friday, Sept. 7, Russia announced, that as of today, we will supply China with all of the crude oil that they need, no matter how much they want... there is no limit. And Russia will not sell or trade this crude oil to China using the American dollar." - Interview with Natty Bumpo on the Just Measures Radio network, Sept. 11
These duo actions by the two most powerful adversaries of the U.S. economy and empire, have now joined in to make a move to attack the primary economic stronghold that keeps America as the most powerful economic superpower. Once the majority of the world begins to bypass the dollar, and purchase oil in other currencies, then the full weight of our debt and diminished manufacturing structure will come crashing down on the American people.
This new agreement between Russia and China also has serious ramifications in regards to Iran, and the rest of the Middle East. No longer will U.S. sanctions against Iran have a measurable affect, as the rogue nation can simply choose to sell its oil to China, and receive Yuan in return, and use that currency to trade for the necessary resources it needs to sustain its economy and nuclear programs.
The world changed last week, and there was nary a word spoken by Wall Street or by politicians who reveled in their own magnificence as this event took place during the party conventions. A major blow was done on Sept. 6 to the American empire, and to the power of the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency. And China, along with Russia, are now aiming to become the controllers of energy, and thus, controllers of a new petro-currency.
http://www.examiner.com/article/dol...rrency-as-china-begins-to-sell-oil-using-yuan