2020 April, 25, 10:02:52 AM

U.S. Oil ETF Increases Exposure To September Contracts As Market Volatility Persists

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(Reuters) - The United States Oil Fund LP, the largest oil-focused exchange-traded product (ETP) in the country, increased its exposure to September crude oil futures contracts, according to a filing bit.ly/2xNGkKV on Friday.

USO said it may invest about 40% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE platforms for July and 20% in September contracts, compared with the 50% and 10%, respectively, that it had earlier said it would invest.

The fund, which previously invested mainly in front-month contracts, is looking to cushion the blow from a historic sell-off in oil markets hit by oversupply and a coronavirus-induced plunge in fuel demand.

By diversifying its holdings to a wider range of contracts, the fund could potentially allay pressure on its shares. Later-dated oil contracts are trading at higher prices than nearer-term ones.


Demand for the fund has surged as retail investors piled into oil, looking to profit from a rebound after an unprecedented sell-off sent prices near negative-$40 on Monday.

USO, which ended 2.65% lower at $2.57 on Friday, is not alone in reducing their clients’ exposure to front-month oil futures contracts.

Several brokerages, including discount giant TD Ameritrade Corp, are limiting new positions being taken up in certain crude oil contracts after the high-volatility trading on Monday delivered big losses to holders of that contract.


U.S. brokerage Interactive Brokers Group said on Tuesday it had to take an $88 million loss to cover accounts that had to be liquidated.

Steve Sanders, an executive vice president at Interactive Brokers, said the brokerage has now put some restrictions on certain futures contracts in the last few days, such as not allowing clients to open positions within the last five days of a contract expiring.

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