EU says targeting steel companies with cartel charges

EU targets suspected prestressing steel cartel. The European Commission said on Thursday it was investigating a suspected cartel among a number of producers of steel wire and wire rod, known as prestressing steel. "The European Commission can confirm that it sent in October 2008 a statement of objections to a number of companies active in the supply of prestressing steel, concerning their alleged participation in a cartel," the European Union executive said. It did not name any of the suspected companies. A statement of objections is a formal step in Commission antitrust investigations.