Onyx Commodities traders experienced the most volatile day in oil market history as Brent crude swung from $119 to $84 per barrel in a single session. Manny Newman and her team at the London-based firm worked 24 hours straight, fueled by electrolyte drinks and power naps, as price spreads widened to $10 from their normal few cents.

Oil markets faced unprecedented chaos after Saudi Arabia and UAE production cuts escalated Middle East tensions. The benchmark crude's intraday swing marked the largest dollar move on record, forcing traders to evacuate from Dubai while managing thousands of contracts. Price movements became so extreme that standard hedging strategies collapsed within hours.

Onyx Commodities, employing 60 traders across London, Dubai, and Singapore, saw potential $2 million mistakes on single trades compared to typical $10,000 errors. The firm's role in helping companies hedge against price swings became nearly impossible as buyers and sellers struggled to find equilibrium. Newman predicts the market disruption will persist for two to three months, with high prices likely to continue despite political claims of imminent resolution.