China said on Monday it will investigate energy price index providers as it urged coal industry participants to “strictly” meet contractual obligations in its latest bid to tame prices that have hit record highs, pushing thermal coal futures lower. The most-active thermal coal futures on Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange, for delivery in January, tumbled more than 8% – their fourth straight daily decline – but recovered some losses to close down 7% at 1,305.6 yuan ($204.51) per tonne. The contract was down more than 34% from Tuesday’s record of 1,982 yuan per tonne. This year, thermal coal futures were up more than 150%. The state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said it would investigate complaints from individuals that some energy information providers, including in the coal sector, had used false transaction prices, published “hearsay” information and “fabricated” price data and “manipulated price […]