China Seeks Goldilocks Moment in Oil: How Futures Debuts Compare

  • Value of crude contracts traded exceeded nickel, apple futures
  • Open interest for oil futures lower than nickel after 1 week

Photographer:  Stephen Shaver/Bloomberg

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China wants its first-ever oil futures contract to be done just right, rather than too hot or too cold.

While the world’s top crude-importing country is eager to attract liquidity into the contract that was launched March 26, the Shanghai International Energy Exchange has safeguards in place to prevent a speculative blowout that could derail its credibility as a go-to reference price for the region.