Finance

Hong Kong Oil ETF’s Broker Refuses to Let It Buy Futures

  • The move forces Samsung’s oil ETF to stop issuing new shares
  • Fund also bought put options, will adjust futures positions
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The manager of a $500 million oil exchange-traded fund said its broker refused to let it increase holdings of crude futures, a sign of continued risk aversion in global oil markets after last month’s historic plunge below zero.

As a result of the broker’s ultimatum, the Samsung S&P GSCI Crude Oil ER Futures ETF will halt issuance of new shares starting Monday. The Hong Kong-traded fund also bought put options to protect against negative oil prices and will adjust its existing futures positions, moving from a 100% weighting in September West Texas Intermediate contracts to an equal weighting in September, October and December.