Almost two-thirds of commodity market participants say that benchmarks used to set the price of everything from crude oil to ethanol to zinc are vulnerable to manipulation, according to a new study. The report, to be published today by U.K. law firm Clyde & Co., shows that 64 percent of 170 respondents are concerned methods used by price reporting agencies to set commodity benchmarks could be manipulated. Reasons given in the survey include sample groups that are too small, a lack of independent oversight and the fact price creators are also traders who can benefit from influencing prices. “It is an issue that there is a lack of confidence,” Clare Hatcher, a consultant with Clyde & Co.’s International Trade and Commodities Group, said in a phone interview. Benchmark prices and the way they are determined have come under scrutiny after scandals in markets including foreign exchange, precious metals and […]