Traders at BP PLC have been accused of illegally corning part of the US propane market in 2004, driving up the cost of propane, and affecting millions of people who use propane for heating and cooking.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission says that BP executives knew about, and approved the scheme.
They also claim that BP traders caused a brief 50-percent spike in propane prices during the height of the heating season in a bid to reap a quick $20 million in profits. About 7 million households were affected by the price increases.
