Traders actually placed positions worth nearly half a billion dollars in the oil market roughly 15 minutes before Trump’s social media post. (AI image)

Did someone in the oil market know that US President Donald Trump is about to post an update on ‘productive talks with Iran’? Traders actually placed positions worth nearly half a billion dollars in the oil market roughly 15 minutes before Donald Trump’s social media post about “productive” talks with Iran. Minutes after the update from the US President a sharp fall in crude prices occurred and there was increased volatility across other assets.Around 6,200 futures contracts linked to Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude were traded between 6:49 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. New York time on Monday, according to a report in The Financial Times. This activity came shortly before Trump’s message on Truth Social stating that there had been “productive conversations” with Tehran in recent days aimed at ending the conflict. The total notional value of these trades was estimated at $580 million!At the same time, trading volumes in Brent and WTI surged, with a spike recorded just seconds before 6:50 a.m. Futures tied to the S&P 500 index also moved higher soon after the oil trades, with volumes rising significantly during that period.It remains unclear whether a single participant or multiple entities were responsible for the trades executed on Monday, the report said.Trump’s announcement at 7:04 a.m. led to a broad sell-off in global energy markets, while S&P 500 futures and European equities moved higher as investors reduced expectations of a prolonged Middle East conflict.Global markets have seen sharp swings amid concerns over the conflict in Iran, which started in late February. The impact has been particularly pronounced in Asian economies, which are highly vulnerable to any disruption in access to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy supplies from the Middle East.In energy markets, benchmark US crude rose by $3.55 to $91.68 per barrel. Brent crude, the global benchmark, increased by $3.83 to $103.77 per barrel, reversing earlier losses recorded during the previous session on Wall Street.

‘Well-timed trades’: Not the first time!

The timing of these trades mirrors earlier instances in recent months where large and highly profitable bets were placed on prediction platform Polymarket ahead of US military actions involving Iran and Venezuela.“It’s hard to prove causality . . . but you have to wonder who would have been relatively aggressive at selling futures at that point, 15 minutes before Trump’s post,” a market strategist at a US broker told FT, referring to Monday’s trades.Market participants pointed out that this incident is among several instances in recent months where sizable trades have taken place shortly before official announcements from the US government.A trader at a leading hedge fund said energy consultants had observed multiple large block trades recently that appeared to be unusually timed. Another portfolio manager noted that a pattern of significant and well-timed transactions had led to a “level of frustration” among investors.“My gut from watching markets for the last 25 years is, this is really abnormal,” he added. “It’s Monday morning, there’s no important data today, there aren’t any Fed speakers you’d want to front run. It’s an unusually large trade for a day with no event risk . . . Somebody just got a lot richer.”White House spokesperson Kush Desai said, “The only focus of President Trump and Trump administration officials is doing what’s best for the American people.”He further said, “The White House does not tolerate any administration official illegally profiteering off of insider knowledge, and any implication that officials are engaged in such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting.”Trump also signalled flexibility in his stance, leaving room for a possible shift in approach even as he highlighted the favourable response in energy markets to his earlier social media post about ongoing talks.“The price of oil will drop like a rock, as soon as a deal is done. I guess it already is today,” Trump said. “Now we have a very serious chance of making a deal. That doesn’t guarantee anything. I’m not guaranteeing anything. I’m not going to come out here in a week or two weeks, and have you all say, ‘Oh, you said…’ — I didn’t say anything.”In a post on X later on Monday, Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf rejected claims that any talks had taken place between Washington and Tehran, prompting a retreat in global equities and renewed buying interest in energy markets.He said: “Fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”A commodities trader noted that while the volume of oil futures sold was not particularly large compared to overall market activity, which had already been elevated even before the conflict, a notable movement was observed in TTF, the European gas benchmark, around the same time.Tim Skirrow, head of derivatives at Energy Aspects, said: “That is a larger than usual volume [in Brent and WTI] than I would expect at that time of day, but in the same breath it’s not excessively large. I find it a bit hard to join the dots here.”He further added that Brent futures and options markets had attracted “significant inflows” from funds in recent weeks. “Given the price reaction, it seems that nearly everyone was long. This is almost a necessary precursor for such a violent move.”

NEW DELHI: The Drugs Controller of India is intensifying its regulatory surveillance against the illegal sale and promotion of weight loss drugs (GLP-1), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday.According to the ministry, the move aims to ensure ethical pharmaceutical practices across the drug supply chain.“With the recent introduction of multiple generic variants of GLP-1-based weight loss drugs in the Indian market, concerns have emerged regarding their on-demand availability through retail pharmacies, online platforms, wholesalers, and wellness clinics. These drugs, when used without proper medical supervision, may lead to serious adverse effects and related health risks,” the ministry said in an official statement.“Taking cognisance of the situation, India’s Drugs Controller, in collaboration with state regulators, has initiated a series of targeted actions to curb possible malpractices across the pharmaceutical supply chain and prevent unauthorized sales and use,” it added.The ministry recalled that on March 10, a comprehensive advisory was issued to all manufacturers, explicitly prohibiting surrogate advertisements and any form of indirect promotion that could mislead consumers or encourage off-label usage.The statement further noted that enforcement activities have been significantly scaled up in recent weeks, with audits and inspections conducted at 49 entities across multiple regions. These included online pharmacy warehouses, drug wholesalers, retailers, and wellness and slimming clinics.“The misuse of weight loss drugs without clinical oversight can lead to severe health complications. Citizens are advised to use such medications only under the guidance of qualified medical practitioners,” the health ministry stated.

The drug has been approved in India with the condition that it be prescribed only by endocrinologists and internal medicine specialists, and for certain indications, by cardiologists.

Bengaluru: Concerns of a renewed garbage crisis are mounting across Bengaluru after waste collection services were symbolically halted in 76 localities across the city Monday, triggering fears of a citywide disruption. The protest by waste collection auto drivers stems from an escalating dispute over waste segregation practices and working conditions.Sanitation workers and contractors have alleged that officials are compelling households to segregate waste into three categories, but compliance on the ground remains poor. As a result, the burden of segregation has shifted onto sanitation workers. Drivers claim they are forced to spend up to five hours daily sorting mixed waste, exposing them to hazardous materials including sharp objects. Workers have reported frequent injuries, skin infections, and other health issues due to prolonged exposure, said B Balasubramanya, general secretary of the Waste Contractors’ Association. Karigowda, head of GBA’s Solid Waste Management Unit, termed the stoppage “illegal.” He emphasised that existing agreements mandate contractors to collect only properly segregated waste and refuse unsegregated garbage. He added that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) is in force and that contractors are legally bound to ensure uninterrupted services.In a parallel development, police have initiated legal action against multiple contractors. At Kumaraswamy Layout police station, an FIR was filed against BS Kiran Kumar of Sri Lakshmi Ranganatha Enterprises following a complaint by BBMP gazetted officer Manuja R. The contractor allegedly failed to carry out waste collection duties in Padmanabhanagar (ward 182) between 6am and 2pm on March 23, leading to garbage accumulation and public health risks.Additionally, two FIRs were registered at Rajajinagar and Girinagar police stations under the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act-2013. Those named include P Vikram Devaraddi (Sri Varshini Enterprises), Anjaneya (Annamma Devi Prasanna Enterprises), and BS Kiran Kumar (Sri Ranganatha Swamy Enterprises). Complaints by sanitation officials cited failure to clear waste in multiple wards, resulting in foul odour, environmental hazards, and disruption to daily life.—

In the middle of IPL 2026 preparations, where every net session counts, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer stepped out for some entertainment. The star batter was spotted at a packed theatre in Mohali on Sunday, watching the runaway hit Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Dressed casually in a black and white hoodie, Iyer made his way to a top-row seat. When fans noticed him and started recording, the cricketer smiled, waved, and kept it cool, a simple fan moment that went viral fast.

Iyer’s outing comes right after other cricketers like MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson were seen enjoying the same film in Chennai. The Aditya Dhar-directed spy action thriller, starring Ranveer Singh in a powerful undercover role, has taken the box office by storm since its release on March 19. With its intense sequences, revenge theme, and patriotic edge, the sequel to Dhurandhar has pulled crowds from all sides, and now top IPL stars are part of the frenzy.

Shreyas Iyer enjoys Dhurandhar magic in the cinema hall

Iyer, fresh off captaining Punjab Kings and building form ahead of the IPL opener, chose a low-key outing to unwind. Fans at the Mohali theatre got a surprise when the Indian batter walked in. Videos show him settling in quietly, enjoying the film like any other viewer. His wave to the camera turned the sighting into instant social media gold.

This isn’t the first time cricketers have shown love for big Bollywood releases, but Dhoni’s group outing in Chennai added to the buzz. For Iyer, it is a rare off-field glimpse before the high-pressure IPL season starts. With Punjab Kings eyeing a strong campaign under his leadership, a movie break might just be the perfect reset.

As Dhurandhar 2 keeps packing theatres, Shreyas Iyer’s visit proves the film’s pull goes beyond cinema halls, and even IPL stars can’t resist the revenge saga. The crossover of cricket and blockbuster cinema? Fans love it every time.

Here is the video:

Shreyas Iyer was seen watching Dhurandhar 2 in Mohali. pic.twitter.com/zqgCoKnJX9

— Parv 🚩 (@ParvCryEmoji) March 22, 2026

Also READ: Will Preity Zinta’s Punjab Kings punish Lockie Ferguson for missing early part of IPL 2026?

Punjab Kings start IPL 2026 at home

This year, they start with their first match against the Gujarat Titans at home in Mullanpur on March 31 with a chance to build on last season’s strong run and chase that elusive first title. Iyer, nicknamed “Sarpanch Sahab,” led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final as runners-up, where they lost by six runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thrilling finish.

Fans are eager to see the new signings in action and how the experienced core, including Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, plus domestic talents such as Priyansh Arya and Harpreet Brar, shape up under pressure. With home games giving them an early advantage, Punjab Kings will look to start strong and carry momentum through the tournament.

Also READ: ‘Sarpanch Sahab’ Shreyas Iyer headlines Punjab Kings’ jersey launch for IPL 2026