Globe and Mail – Amaranth Advisors LLC and two of its former traders have reached a settlement with U.S. regulatory staff over the alleged manipulation of natural gas futures prices.

The deal, which was submitted to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, could end the long case against hedge fund traders Brian Hunter and Matthew Donohue.

A spokesman for Mr. Hunter, a Calgarian who made more than $100-million trading natural gas for Amaranth before the hedge fund collapsed, declined to comment.

The commission accused the traders last year of manipulating prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and proposed a $291-million (U.S.) fine.

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