China’s Cosco, Japan's NYK and Korea’s Hanjin are among the 14 companiesunder the microscope for allegedly using announcements on their websites tocollude over freight rates, Reuters says citing unnamed sources.  

European Commission regulators launched the investigationtwo weeks ago but did not identify the companies in question.

However several liners including the world’s top three operators- Maersk Line, MSC and CMA CGM – which together make up the P3 alliance – allconfirmed they are part of the probe.

Germany’s