A crude oil position linked to Maser Group has come under financial pressure following the US-Iran ceasefire, which reversed the market conditions that originally supported the trade.The position, estimated at around $150 million, is held through an African subsidiary of Maser Group using the IBKR brokerage platform. It was built during a period of heightened Middle East tensions, when oil prices rose sharply on fears of supply disruptions to a corridor responsible for roughly a fifth of global oil supply.The ceasefire announcement unwound much of that risk premium. Crude prices fell and have since traded erratically, with sharp intraday moves driven by uncertainty over regional stability, tanker activity, and potential supply changes.The volatility has pushed the position below required margin levels, according to sources familiar with the trade.
- +US-Iran ceasefire puts pressure on Maser Group’s $150m Oil trade
Under standard brokerage arrangements, traders must maintain minimum collateral against open positions.
Under standard brokerage arrangements, traders must maintain minimum collateral against open positions. When prices move against a leveraged trade, that collateral can fall short — triggering a margin call that requires the trader to inject additional funds or face automatic reduction of their exposure. Fresh capital has been added to keep the position open, the sources said.Prateek Suri, who leads Maser Group’s African investment activities through its arm MDR Investments, has been linked to the trade. Ben Chia, a Singapore-based investor who has partnered with Suri on several cross-border deals, is also connected to the broader network. Chia has previously indicated confidence in long-term commodity market trends.The position remains open. Whether it recovers depends largely on the trajectory of oil prices and how durably the ceasefire holds.
