Market Commentary and Intraday News

SEC says Chinese firm illegal traded on oil deal

295 days ago

(AP:NEW YORK) The Securities and Exchange Commission says it got a court order to freeze assets of Hong Kong traders who bought stock in a Canadian company before a firm owned by the Chinese government announced plans to buy it this week.

The SEC said Friday that Well Advantage Limited and other traders allegedly bought shares in the Canadian oil and gas company Nexen Inc. based on inside information. China's CNOOC announced plans to buy Nexen on Monday for $15.1 billion.

The SEC said it moved to freeze the assets shortly after Well Advantage tried to sell all of its Nexen stock.

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