US revives probe of media handling of economic data

The officials, concerned that some sensitive information may have leaked into financial markets, reversed a decision to wind down the investigation, Reuters quoted a person familiar with the probe as saying on Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg and Dow Jones were among the media companies under investigation. No other details were disclosed.

Reuters and Journal reported in January that law enforcement authorities had conducted an investigation into whether media companies facilitated insider trading by prematurely releasing market-sensitive data, but decided not to bring charges.

Media organisations receive sensitive economic data during “lockups” in which they are not supposed to transmit any information until a set embargo time has lifted.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been frustrated that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission had not provided data sought by investigators. Citing officials familiar with the probe, it said the CFTC had since agreed to provide trading data and analysis to help the investigation.

Thomson Reuters spokesman David Girardin declined to comment. ■