My 1999

At this time Lu Hui came over.

"Mr. Xu, dinner is ready."

Xu Liang nodded, "John, dinner is ready. Let's chat while eating?"

"I happen to be hungry too."

John Humphrey stood up with a smile.

"please."

"please."

After dinner and the two chatted for a while, John Humphrey said goodbye and left.

Looking at the car silhouette in the distance, Xu Liang's eyes became profound.

He returned to the study and took out his cell phone to call Xia Changsheng.

"Mr. Xu."

"How much has the long oil contract sold in Singapore?"

"We have purchased US$1 billion with 10 times leverage, holding 380,000 long positions in crude oil, with a position price of US$26.3 per barrel. As of now, the average price per barrel is US$0.4 higher than before our investment." Xia Changsheng's detailed report .

What needs to be mentioned is.

In the world of oil trading, there is a term called ‘Asian contango’.

According to statistics, from 1993 to 2001, the price of Saudi light crude oil sold to Northeast Asia was on average US$1.01 per barrel higher than the price sold to Europe. Compared with the price sold to the US market, the gap was even greater, sometimes reaching $3+.

There have even been cases where buying oil directly from Saudi Arabia and shipping it back to China is cheaper than shipping it from Saudi Arabia to the United States and then transferring it from the United States to China. This phenomenon is known internationally as "Asian premium."

This situation occurs mainly because the power to price oil is in the hands of the West.

There are two international benchmark crude oils: WTI, traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange in the United States; and Brent, traded on the International Petroleum Exchange in London.

Since Asia currently does not have a successful crude oil futures market, several local benchmark oils in Asia are ultimately determined by WTI and Brent prices, which cannot fully reflect the true market supply and demand in Northeast Asia.

As a result, the price of crude oil sold in the Middle East to Northeast Asia is generally high, and China, as a major energy importer, has also suffered greatly from this.

Listening to Xia Changsheng's report, Xu Liangliang made silent calculations.

This time, he prepared US$3.46 billion for Hongyan Fund’s investment in oil futures.

Yahoo Japan’s equity is pledged for US$2 billion.

The New Dream Real Estate project transaction received US$260 million, and the New Dream Education Group received a mortgage loan of US$1.2 billion.

Two bets have been made so far.

The first US$1 billion was invested at the end of October last year.

The second transaction was in early January this year.

As of now, Red Rock Fund has $1.46 billion left to invest in oil bulls.

After Kunpeng Fund has already invested US$1.3 billion, there is still US$1.5 billion left.

Taken together, Xu Liang still has US$3 billion in capital.

"I wonder how much Larry Ellison has prepared?" Xu Liang said.

"Don't vote for now, let's see which way the wind blows."

"clear."

"By the way, is there any news from the commercial investigation company we are cooperating with?" Xu Liang asked.

"The other party reported back that the security around Larry Ellison was very tight. They followed him several times but were never able to find his party location in New York.

However, they said that Larry Ellison has been in contact with banks recently for a huge loan. "

Xu Liang was shocked, "How much is the specific amount?"

"It's unclear at the moment, but there are many big banks participating, and it's definitely more than US$5 billion. Moreover, Goldman Sachs came forward to help organize this loan."

"It's Goldman Sachs again." A cold look flashed in Xu Liang's eyes.

"Mr. Xu, Larry Ellison has spent a lot of money. Should we also prepare some more funds?"

Xu Liang thought for a while, and the only ones he could get loans from now were Jianlibao and Hongmeng.

Hongmeng is his core and must not be involved.

As for Hongyan Fund's equity and real estate, they basically use leverage.

If you want loans and financing, you need to pledge repeatedly, and if the leverage is too high, the interest rate will be higher, which is not cost-effective.

"You contact Standard Chartered and use Jianlibao's equity as collateral to make a loan."

"OK."

With Jianlibao's current revenue and net profit, it is not difficult to borrow US$2 billion.

This was pretty much his last ammunition.

He didn't know if the money would match what Larry Ellison raised, but in addition to the real money, he also had money he made from rising gas prices during his early entry.

If you include this money, the capital in his hands has exceeded 10 billion.

However, Xu Liang is the biggest guarantee for going long in oil this time.

Not how much money it is at all.

But it was the Ugly Country that was already holding a gun and preparing to ravage Sa~Dam.

"Ellison, my enemy is only you, but your enemy is not just me." Xu Liang said.

Those who want to raise oil prices include the Federal Reserve, military industry giants and oil giants. Compared with these forces, Ellison is not enough.

——

"Brother, this is where you live in England?"

Xu Meng couldn't help but widen his eyes as he looked at the magnificent buildings in the distance and the lush lawns around them.

"Um."

Xu Liang smiled and nodded.

The New Year will be here soon.

After confirming that he would not go home, his parents also flew over from China with Xu Meng.

"It's too big." Xu Meng exclaimed.

Xu Yongpei and Wang Lingxiang also looked at everything outside in shock.

The manor in front of them was larger than their entire village.

"Liangzi, this place is too big. It's such a waste for our family of four to live in such a big place." Xu's father couldn't help but said.

"This manor was rented by the company for its annual meeting. I happened to be busy with work here in the UK, so I rented it for a longer period of time."

After the car stopped, Xu Liang opened the door and got out.

"Mom and dad, come on down, we're here."

After Xu's father and others walked down, the manor housekeeper who had been waiting for a long time came over with his servants.

"Mr. Xu."

"Corey, this is my family. Please help arrange their rooms."

"OK."

After nodding in greeting to Xu's father, Corey Phillips waved to the servant to carry the luggage inside.

"Mom and Dad, come in."

Xu Yongpei and Wang Lingxiang followed their son into the villa blankly.

Now they are like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, their minds are confused.

After entering through the grand door that is three meters high and two meters wide, you are greeted by a room that is five meters high and more than 300 square meters, dotted with giant crystal lamps in the middle.

"Wow, brother, it's so big here! It's bigger than what you see in some Western movies." Xu Meng exclaimed.

"This is where the owner of the manor holds banquets and dances. It is also the largest room in the entire manor. Come on, I will take you to the second floor to settle down first."

As he said that, he led his family through the hall and down the stairs covered with Turkish carpets to the second floor.

After settling in his parents and sister, he took them around the entire manor before settling down.

"Liangzi, this place is too big. Mr. Fang is too young to live in a home, so let's find a smaller place to live?" Wang Lingxiang asked worriedly.

"Mom, don't worry. Although this manor is large, there are many people living there. The total number of servants, gardeners, and bodyguards responsible for building it is forty or fifty, which is not as few as you think." Xu Liang said with a smile.

"So many? Why didn't I see this second floor?"

"The second floor is where we live, and they mainly live on the first floor."

"You should live there honestly and don't worry about it all day long." Xu's father couldn't help but lectured.

"This is my son. If I don't worry about it, who will? I expect you, a lazy guy like you who won't even lift the soy sauce bottle when it's crooked?"

"How come I'm a lazy guy? Don't I do all the work at home?" Xu's father said in dissatisfaction.

"Forget it. If you were asked to do the work at home, the fields would be covered with grass."

Seeing this, Xu Liang quickly interrupted their bickering.

"Dad, Mom, I haven't had time to prepare New Year's goods here. The New Year is coming soon. Can I ask Gangzi to take you to Chinatown in London to buy some?"

After the two of them nodded, Wang Lingxiang continued: "Liangzi, if you don't go back to celebrate the New Year now, Gangzi is here too. It would be too deserted to leave Uncle Huo alone at home to celebrate the New Year."

"Mom, don't worry. I have arranged for someone to pick you up. You will definitely be able to come before New Year's Eve. After the New Year, when you have lived here enough, you can go back together."

"That's good."

After chatting for a while and having dinner, Xu Liang returned to his study.

the next day.

Lu Hui came over.

"Mr. Xu, I just received a call from Mr. John Humphrey, inviting you to attend a charity gala at Apartment 1290, Hyde Park, at six o'clock tonight."

"Charity Gala?"

"Yes. Mr. Humphrey said the organizer of the party was Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster."

Xu Liang understood.

During his time in the UK, he also gradually learned about some of the conditions in the British business community.

The famous Grosvenor family is even more famous.

It is often said in China that wealth cannot last more than three generations, but it has completely lost its effectiveness in the Grosvenor family.

Since being awarded the title of Duke of Westminster by Queen Victoria in 1874 and becoming the top nobleman under the royal family, the Grosvenor family has been wealthy for 129 years.

Since being named Baron Eton in 1622 and officially entering the ranks of hereditary nobility, the Grosvenor family has been wealthy for 380 years.

From the time Gilbert La Grosvenor came to England with William I the Conqueror and received the entire Cheshire as a reward for his "service to the dragon", he has been wealthy for nearly a thousand years.

At its peak, the Grosvenor family held more than half of the land in London and 0.22% of the land in the UK, totaling 133,100 acres, about 500 million square meters, seven times the size of the Queen, and even the land under Buckingham Palace. Belonging to the Grosvenor family, it is also known as "The Queen's Landlord".

Even now, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor remains Britain's richest landowner, his wealth rising as the London property market appreciates.

Through his privately owned Grosvenor Group, the duke owns real estate properties on five continents.

Not only do they own 190 acres in Belgravia, London's most expensive residential area, the family also owns 96,000 acres in Scotland.

Owns 32,000 acres in Spain and thousands more elsewhere in England.

The famous Eton Manor is their ancestral property.

In addition to being rich, the Grosvenor family also has an excellent relationship with the British royal family.

The famous Queen Victoria once served as the godmother to the children of the Grosvenor family, and the mother of the next generation of the family, Hugh Grosvenor, was the godmother of Prince William.

In Britain, the Grosvenor family has the highest power and wealth.

Xu Liang had no intention of changing his promise to John Humphrey to attend the banquet.

"Have the invitations been sent?"

"Mr. Humphrey said his secretary would send the invitation about ten o'clock."

Xu Liang nodded, "Prepare a suitable suit for me."

"OK."