May 29, 2008 02:07 PM
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators are six months into a wide-ranging investigation of U.S. oil markets, with a focus on possible price manipulation.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission says it started the probe in December and is taking the unusual step of publicizing it ``because of today's unprecedented market conditions.''
Crude prices have risen more than 42 percent since early December, when they hovered below $90 a barrel. Gasoline prices are nearing a national average of $4 a gallon, up from about $3.20 a year ago.
The agency said details of the investigation remain confidential.