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Commodity Markets the Focus of New Task Force

In light of the recent rise in crude oil and other commodity prices and the influx of new investors into commodity futures markets, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced Tuesday the formation of an interagency task force to evaluate developments in commodity markets. The task force — which includes staff representatives from the CFTC, the Federal Reserve, the Department of the Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Agriculture — will examine investor practices, fundamental supply and demand factors, and study the role of speculators and index traders in the commodity markets.

High commodity prices are posing a significant strain on U.S. households and the announced Interagency Task Force will aid public and regulatory understanding of the forces that are affecting the functioning of these markets. The Interagency Task Force will strive to complete its work as expeditiously as possible, and will make public the results, a statement from CFTC said.

Source: Feedstuffs