Wall Street extended its advance Monday as the price of crude oil fell briefly below $113 a barrel, easing investors’ concerns about the impact of inflation on the economy.

Wall Street turned higher Monday as the price of crude oil fell below $114 a barrel, easing investors’ concerns about the impact of inflation on the economy.

Congress has hurled vitriol at the IntercontinentalExchange, but its founder views the business as one of the country’s “most regulated commodity exchanges.”

Congress has hurled vitriol at the IntercontinentalExchange, but its founder views the business as one of the country’s “most regulated commodity exhchanges.”

A Dutch company is accused of making about $1 million in illegal profits by manipulating oil prices last year.

The C.F.T.C. charged Optiver Holding, a global trading fund, with manipulating the oil market on the New York Mercantile Exchange in March 2007.

The C.F.T.C. charged Optiver Holding, a global trading fund, with manipulating the oil market on the New York Mercantile Exchange in March 2007.

A preliminary study by a federal task force concluded that the rise in oil prices over the last five years was “largely due” to rising demand for oil, rather than speculation.

A preliminary study by a federal task force concluded that the rise in oil prices over the last five years was “largely due” to rising demand for oil, rather than speculation.

Wall Street closed modestly lower on Monday as the price of oil regained ground and investors cashed in some gains from the stock market’s rally last week.