On December 14, the WTI (West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil) price on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell from $47.36 to $45.74 in one trading day, a sharp drop of 3.4%, which made the international crude oil futures market fluctuate steadily.

On the day the New York Stock Exchange closed, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other American newspapers published commentaries. Analyze the reasons for the sharp drop in oil prices, and the future trend of oil prices. By the end of the evening, the news was reported by major media outlets around the world.

There are comments that weaker oil prices are conducive to the recovery of the U.S. economy. At the same time, there are also comments that the sharp drop in oil prices is a concentrated reflection of the negative news in the market since December, and oil prices still have a strong momentum in the long run.

However, this is not the case at all in the eyes of those who know the inside story. The reason for the sharp drop in oil prices is because there is a lot of money shorting oil prices.

In Mitsui Oil's small conference room, four or five staff members looked at the computer screen with a dejected look on the frozen picture of the price of WTI at $45.74 at the end of trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange at 4 a.m. this morning.

Now that 14 hours have passed, they are waiting for a new trading day to start in New York. However, before 22:45 tonight, if Mitsui Oil fails to come up with a margin of 112 million, Mitsui Oil will be forced to close its position by the New York Stock Exchange.

The situation that Mitsui is currently facing can be described in futures terms: liquidation. Liquidation due to falling oil prices.

"Muto-kun, I already said that the decline in oil prices is the general trend now, but you don't listen, now it's okay." In a brightly lit office. Kosuke Nakamura, the chief trader of Mitsui Petroleum, vented his dissatisfaction to Shunzhao Muto, who was sitting behind his desk.

Muto Shunzhao said angrily: "Nakamura-kun, now what I want to listen to is the solution. And not your complaints. ”

Last night, Mitsui, Jierun and Hehua had a fierce confrontation in the WTI futures market. Mitsui invested $800 million. Go all out to go long oil. However, after the end of the trading session, oil prices plunged by 3.4%. Mitsui instead blew up because of this. A margin of $112 million is required.

The $112 million margin is not something he can't get out. But who can guarantee that oil prices will stop falling when today's trading hours begin? He didn't have enough money in his hands anymore. And as long as the price of WTI falls again today, the loss will be blown up.

"Hmph, what can I do? I can only tell you that the 3.4% drop in oil prices must have made international investors pay attention to the profits of shorting. Once the money-making effect is formed. Without the full support of the consortium, this huge deal will only fail. You wait to be punished. After saying that, Kosuke Nakamura left angrily.

"Bang", the office door was slammed shut.

"Eight Ga Ya Road. Kosuke Nakamura, what is your attitude? Muto Shunzhao threw all the texts, phones, and teacups on the desk on the ground, sat on the chair and gasped violently, and despair came up.

I didn't expect that the situation of Chen Jiulin, the former Fourth Petroleum Singapore Company, would fall on him. It's ironic!

"President Muto...."Keisuke Miura, a senior manager at Mitsui Energy Risk Management, pushed open the office door under Miko's guidance, and shouted cautiously when he saw the mess on the ground.

Muto Shunzhao looked up. The hoarse voice said with anxiety, "I'm fine." Miura-kun, has the matter been done? ”

He entrusted his assistants, Miko and Keisuke Miura, with a $112 million guarantee.

"President Muto, it's done." Keisuke Miura knew it was just drinking to quench his thirst. Oil prices are certainly not going to stop falling. Hehua has already achieved a phased victory last night, and he will definitely take advantage of the victory to pursue today.

He and Muto Shunzhao are grasshoppers on a rope, if Muto Shunzhao loses power. He didn't have much future within Mitsui, so he persuaded him, "President Muto." Can you give Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lee Yee Ji? ”

"Let him mediate?" Muto Shunzhao shook his head. The last time Li Yiji mediated, Mitsui and Hehua reached an understanding. But Mitsui kills Xiao Zhong. There is no room for mediation with Hehua. It is impossible for Hehua to stop.

Keisuke Miura gritted his teeth and said viciously: "No, let Li Yiji intimidate Hehua." "Mediation is simply not possible. But he believes the Singapore government will definitely favor the Mitsui consortium.

"Yo Si." Muto Shunzhao's train of thought smoothed down a bit, and asked the assistant, "Miko, what is your opinion?" ”

Miko bowed her head and said softly, "President Muto, I can consider asking President Nagai for help." ”

President Nagai is Shizuka Nagai, Vice President of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Hong Kong Branch. She has the ability to mobilize about $500 million or six billion. This can suspend the financial pressure on Mitsui Oil. The downside is that the Mitsui consortium may know about the huge losses caused by President Muto: the paper loss is already nearly $1 billion.

Muto Shunzhao laughed, releasing the huge pressure in his heart, "Yo Xi, this plan is not bad. I have to think about it. Let's pay the deposit first and get through tonight. ”

…

…

After exercising in the pool early in the morning, Lu Jing went to Fu Jie's office after breakfast to learn about the situation in the futures market last night. On duty was Fu Jie's assistant Bu Shanmei. Bu Shanmei smiled and beckoned Lu Jing to sit down, "Mr. Fu can't hold it and rest first." Mr. Lu, let me give you a briefing on the situation..."

Hehua pulled oil prices to $45.74 after the WTI futures market broke down the blockades of Mitsui & Co. and Jierun. On the evening of the 15th, Hehua made another effort to suppress oil prices to $44.23.

Listening to Bu Shanmei's introduction, Lu Jing nodded frequently. It was precisely because Kazuka had defeated the resistance of Mitsui & Co. and Jierun the night before yesterday that he would take Ge'er to a vacation and leisure. Otherwise, it will be difficult to relax if you want to relax if you have something in your heart.

After chatting with Bu Shanmei for a while, Lu Jing went to the study to take a look. This is where the assistants work. Song Yuqi and Mo Jingwen were drinking milk at their desks. After a few jokes, Lu Jing asked, "What about Yu Le?" "The team of EK Consulting has been very busy these days, and He Mengming moved to the office of EK on the 39th floor to work.

Mo Jingwen sipped the milk and said with a bright smile: "Xiaoman hasn't left yet." How could he come to work so early? Are you looking for something with him? "It's true that Kou Xiaoman is rude, but her mouth is also very sweet, calling her Sister Jingwen. She has a good relationship with Kou Xiaoman.

"I'm going to take a trip to Fourth Oil Singapore. Oil prices have reached this point where the positions in the hands of Fourth Oil Singapore can be closed. By the way, how is the investigation into the cause of death going? ”

Song Yuqi chuckled charmingly: "Lu Jing, are you about to start doing business so soon?" Oh, Li Yiji called me last night, hoping to have a meal with you at noon today. ”

Mo Jingwen smiled coquettishly when she heard this. Lu Jing and Xie Qingge went to play in the Xinyuan villa area for half a day yesterday, and then played in Singapore City late at night, and only returned at 2 o'clock in the morning. Li Yiji's call came to Sister Yuqi.

Lu Jing ignored Song Yuqi's teasing and said with a smile: "What's the matter, he wants to send a message to Mitsui again?" Mitsui and Jierun are now eight to nine times out of ten. I won't agree to reconcile with it. ”

Mitsui & Co. and Jierun liquidated their positions, and Hua estimated it. Of course, with the amount of funds of Mitsui & Co. and Jierun, they will not be able to make up the margin, but it is just a dying struggle, and their huge losses are lost.

Song Yuqi stroked her bun, "I didn't say this, I just said that I would invite you to dinner." Don't you always say that Singapore's elites are prejudiced against Hehuacun? Maybe Li Yiji wants to come and make further friends with you! ”

After Mitsui, a Chinese-forced company, forgave the debts of the Fourth Petroleum Singapore company, Singapore's elites simply changed their attitude and no longer welcomed it. But if they have to choose between Japanese capital and peace with China, the outcome is unknown.

"Then you can call me back. I met with Li Yiji at noon. Lu Jing smiled, went downstairs to the 39th floor to find Xie Qingge, and called Yu Le on the way. Yuqi, Xiao Ming, and Jingwen have been working hard these days, and they called him about running errands. (To be continued......)