Pumping For Information

Federal regulators want to find out if
anybody's been tampering with the price of oil.
For six months now, they've been conducting an investigation
into U.S. oil markets -- focusing on possible price manipulation.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission says it started the
probe in December. It says it's now publicizing it -- an unusual
move -- because of what it calls the "unprecedented market
conditions."
Since early December, crude prices have risen more than 42
percent.
Analysts say the action will probably have a limited impact on
oil prices. They've risen on a combination of factors, including
growing demand in China and other developed nations.
But one strategist says a message is being sent to speculators
who've helped drive energy futures higher. Howard Simons of Bianco
Research in Chicago says the message is, "You either stop this or
we're going to stop it for you."