Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 1
Egg Clearinghouse Inc. Manipulated Egg Prices on Its Electronic Exchange
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 1

Egg Clearinghouse Inc. Manipulated Egg Prices on Its Electronic Exchange

1 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 1

Summary

  • Egg Clearinghouse Inc. was described as having manipulated Egg Libor, the benchmark price set on its electronic egg exchange.
  • ECI’s market is not the main venue for egg purchases; supermarkets, restaurants and bakeries usually buy through direct supply contracts with producers.
  • The exchange instead serves the surplus-and-shortfall market, where producers with extra eggs sell to producers that are net short and need eggs to meet customer deliveries.
  • That role gives the benchmark broader importance because it helps set prices in the market for marginal egg supply rather than routine retail procurement.

Insights

Bird flu was blamed for high egg prices, but was market manipulation the real culprit all along?
Does the egg price-fixing settlement offer real justice or just a slap on the wrist for major producers?
Beyond fines, how can we prevent a few powerful producers from rigging food prices in the future?