Oil Traders Flock to Options Like Never Before on Mideast Risk

  • Brent options open interest jumps more than 25% this month
  • Traders protect against price spike amid bearish 2025 outlook
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Oil traders are holding a record number of options contracts as they seek to protect against the risk of a price spike driven by potential supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Brent options open interest this week topped 4 million contracts for the first time — the equivalent of four billion barrels. The total number of positions held by traders has jumped by more than 25% so far this month.